“Pay The Worker Before His Sweat Dries”: Madras HC Orders Municipal Body To Clear Lawyer’s Pending Fees

The Madras High Court invoked Prophet Muhammad’s teaching that a worker must be paid before his sweat dries, while directing a municipal corporation to settle pending legal fees of its former standing counsel.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan observed that principles of fairness in labour jurisprudence apply equally to professional services such as legal work.

While noting procedural lapses and some delay on the part of the lawyer, the Court held that the corporation could not indefinitely withhold legitimate dues.

It directed payment of the pending fees within two months, without interest, and also flagged concerns over disproportionate public spending on select law officers at the cost of others.