MHA Withdraws Order Requiring Compulsory Payment Of Wages

The National Disaster Management Authority vide its order dated May 17, 2020 has extended the lockdown till May 31, 2020 but with limited restrictions. Concurrently, the National Executive Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs ("MHA") vide its order dated May 17, 2020 ("MHA Order"), in exercise of its powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, also issued directions and guidelines for implementation of the lockdown measures.

One of the important development in the MHA Order is that all previous orders issued by the National Executive Committee in exercise of its powers under Section 10(2)(l) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 shall cease to have effect from May 18, 2020. The orders that stand withdrawn by the MHA Order includes the contentious order dated March 29, 2020 issued by the MHA ("MHA Wage Order") which directed the State Governments/Union Territory Governments to take all necessary steps and issue necessary orders to ensure, inter alia, that "All the