3 weeks ago
Bombay High Court Rules BMC Health Volunteers Get Minimum Wages
There is a very important court in India called the Bombay High Court.
It made a big decision about people called Community Health Volunteers.
These helpers live in Mumbai and work to keep people healthy.
They teach people about health, support government health plans, and connect health centres with local communities, especially in slums.
Even though they are called 'volunteers', they work like regular employees.
They come to work, follow instructions from medical staff, and get paid every month.
The court said they must receive at least the minimum wage, which is the lowest fair amount of pay set by law.
The city government said these helpers were just volunteers, not workers, so they did not have to pay them minimum wages.
But the judge disagreed and said calling them volunteers does not change the work they do.
Now these health helpers will be paid fairly for the hours they work.
The Bombay High Court ruled that BMC Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) are entitled to minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
Justice Sandeep Marne dismissed a batch of BMC petitions challenging an order upholding the CHVs' right to minimum wages.
The court found CHVs work structured duties for the BMC 'for reward', reporting for duty, working fixed hours, and following medical staff instructions.
The BMC argued there was no employer-employee relationship and that CHVs receive Rs 14,000 per month as honorarium for five hours of work daily.
The court clarified the ruling does not grant CHVs permanency or service benefits, and rejected the BMC's request for a six-week stay.
- Who
- Bombay High Court Justice Sandeep Marne ruled in a case between the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC) and its Community Health Volunteers.
- What
- The court held that Community Health Volunteers are entitled to minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and dismissed the BMC's petitions.
- Where
- Mumbai, at the Bombay High Court
- When
- August 13, 2026 (judgment; article reported on August 14, 2026)
- Why
- Because the CHVs perform structured duties for the BMC 'for reward' - reporting for duty, working fixed hours under medical staff instructions - making them workers for the purpose of minimum wages.
Volunteers' right to minimum wages
Civic body's volunteer status argument
Employer-employee relationship
Volunteers' right to minimum wages
CHVs work as workers of the Municipal Corporation - they report for duty, work fixed hours, follow medical staff instructions, and receive fixed monthly payment for reward.
Civic body's volunteer status argument
There is no employer-employee relationship; the CHVs are only volunteers, not workers of the BMC.
Honorarium vs wages
Volunteers' right to minimum wages
Describing the payment as an 'honorarium' does not take the CHVs outside the scope of the Minimum Wages Act.
Civic body's volunteer status argument
The RS 14,000 monthly payment is an honorarium for voluntary service, not wages for employment.
Stay on judgment
Volunteers' right to minimum wages
The judgment should be implemented immediately with no delay in paying minimum wages to CHVs.
Civic body's volunteer status argument
The BMC requested a six-week stay on the judgment before it takes effect.
Key facts
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Judge
- Justice Sandeep Marne
- Ruling
- Community Health Volunteers entitled to minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948
- Judgment Date
- August 13, 2026
- Current Honorarium
- Rs 14,000 per month for five hours of work a day
- Program Duration
- Running for nearly 38 years
- Challenged Order
- September 7, 2020 order of the Authority under the Minimum Wages Act
- Stay Request
- BMC's request for a six-week stay rejected
Quotes
Justice Sandeep Marne
Bombay High Court judge
“"Though branded as volunteers, CHVs almost work as workers of the Municipal Corporation,"”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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