JAIPUR: Can a person survive by earning just 66 paise per day? The fact came up at the hearing of the plea of a grade IV employee, who has been working at a government school as a jaldhari' for the last 23 years, at the Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday.

Taking a serious note, the court issued a showcause notice to the state government, seeking explaination as to why an employee is being paid a paltry sum of Rs 20 per month for all these years, violating the payment of Minimum Wages Act.

Petitioner Jagdish Prasad was given temporary posting of a jaldhari (peon) in the upper primary school in Unniyara village in Tonk district in July 1986. He was appointed on a monthly remuneration of Rs 20.

Though 23 years have passed, Prasad's salary and status have remained the same. As he was neither regularised nor given even the minimum wages he was entitled to, he moved court, highlighting his plight.

According to Prasad's counsel Laxmikant Sharma, the part-time employee was paid just 66 paise per day for 23 years. His repeated requests for regularisation had been turned down.

The court issued notices to the secretary and director (primary education) and Tonk district education officer for explanation. The court further restrained the state government from passing any order prejudicial to the interest of the petitioner.