ORDER

If at all and to what extent the Government of the State of Bihar is vicariously liable for payment of arrears of salaries to the employees of the State owned corporations, public sector undertakings or the statutory bodies is the core question involved in this writ petition.

2. It appears from the records that various Government companies/public sector undertakings, details whereof are stated hereunder have not paid salaries to their workmen and other employees for a long time resulting in death of several persons and miseries brought to a large number of families as would appear from the following :

Sl. Name of Public No. of Date from which Nos. of Death No. Undertaking Employee salary is due of Employees

1. Bihar State Agro Industries 630 May-93 70 Development Corporation

2. Bihar State Medicine & 265 Aug-93 11 Chemical Development Corporation

3. Bihar State Handloom & 429 In Headquarter from 3 Handicraft Corpn. May 1996 in Unit from 1993

4. Bihar State Small Scale 141 In Headquarter from 36 Industrial Development April 1995. In Unit Corporation from April 1993

5. Bihar State Sugar 9240 From January 2000 in 467 Corporation Headquarter. In Unit from April 1992

6. Bihar Stat