The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Central and State governments to file action-taken report (ATR) on the fate of compensation to the families of workers who suffered due to silicosis in Mahabubnagar district.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy instructed that officials and departments of both governments should file affidavits on the compensation amounts paid to the kith and kin of the workers. The bench had taken up the detailed news story published by The Hindu on the families of workers affected by silicosis not getting compensation as a Public Interest Litigation.

Hearing the petition first time on Tuesday, the bench sought clarification from the Telangana government on the matter. Advocate-General B. S. Prasad explained that the government had taken steps to pay compensation to the families of workers. As the AG submitted that a committee was formed in the matter, the CJ observed that formation of a committees was routine.

“But what about the people affected?” the CJ sought to know. On learning that the HC had earlier heard the matter through another writ petition, the bench said families of the workers would have got justice if the Central and State governments had co-ordinated with each other.

When the AG explained the government’s stand, the CJ asked, “What is Central Regional Labour Commissioner doing?”. He directed the officer to file a personal affidavit on the steps taken for payment of compensation to the families of the workers.