KOCHI: The Kerala government suffered a setback on Tuesday when the High Court stayed for two months the former's decision to deduct six-day salary of all its employees in the next five months as a temporary measure.

The government informed the high court that they have the right to deduct salary from employees. There is no ruling that salaries should be paid within the stipulated time, but can be kept apart, the government said. The court dismissed the arguments of the court. The petitioners are employees' organizations supported by the Congress and the BJP. The petitioners’ plea mentioned that the government's decision to deduct salary without the permission of the employees does not exist legally.

However the court said that the state government could go in for an appeal, if it wished.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had first demanded a contribution of one month's salary each from all state government officials towards the Relief Fund, but the move was shot down by the opposition parties.

Feeling snubbed, the Pinarayi government then went ahead and announced that they have no other way but to defer six-day salary for every month for the next five months. It too came under attack from the opposition staff unions which approached the court.

Senior Congress legislator P T Thomas said the court order was a "beating for the arrogance and adamant stand taken by Pinarayi".

"It should not be forgotten that a controversy had surfaced in the way similar funds collected during the 2018 floods were misused and hence when this call came people by and large were not impressed. So, it's only natural the court stayed this," said Thomas.

Revenue Minister E Chandrasekheran however put up a brave face and said the government will have to abide by the court stay.

"This was resorted to because of paucity of funds at the state's disposal. Now, we will have to see what else can be done," said Chandrasekheran.