KOCHI: Kerala high court had stayed the government order that disagreement letter should be submitted by those who are not willing to contribute a month’s salary to the chief minister’s disaster relief fund. While delivering this order, the high court division bench observed that demanding such a letter would hurt the self-respect of employees.

The state government had filed an appeal against this verdict. However, Supreme Court on Monday has clarified that such a disagreement letter cannot be demanded from the employees.

The high court had earlier said that the government forcing people to shell out money in the name of salary challenge could not be allowed. “In this case the government has a relentless attitude. We are prima facie convinced about this. The demand that one month’s salary should be donated is tantamount to forced fund collection. How will you identify persons who may not make donations though they have money?” the court had quipped.

The court said that the government should carry out salary challenge after taking into consideration staffs’ financial difficulties. It is not a right thing to force people those who don’t have money. “Revealing the names and other details of those who are not part of the salary challenge will hurt their self-respect. Let the employees donate what they can. It is not right to say that a certain amount should be donated,” the bench said. This verdict backs the high court verdict on the issue.