PHAGWARA, July 12 — A fresh wave of optimism swept through the ranks of former JCT Mill workers on Friday as a court-monitored resolution process entered a critical stage, with the formal distribution of dues claim forms beginning at the company’s Phagwara facility.
Insolvency Professional Hasti Mal Kachhara, appointed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) as part of the ongoing corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP), visited the mill premises and handed over D-forms to union representatives. These forms are designed to facilitate the final submission of claims related to unpaid wages, allowances, bonuses, ex-gratia, and other dues pending up to October 24, 2024.
The workers, many of whom have been awaiting their dues for years, view the move as a tangible step forward in the long-stalled process.
“After years of waiting, there is finally a process we can participate in — one that could return what is rightfully ours,” said Dharmendra, president of the JCT INTUC Union. “We have been given the responsibility to support the workers in filling out these D-forms accurately and quickly. We’re committed to doing this transparently.”
The meeting was attended by several labour representatives, including Mahatam Tiwari, Shamsher Bharti, Mohit Sharma, Rajeev Chaubey, Sunil Kumar, and Dilip Kumar, all of whom have been at the forefront of the struggle to secure pending payments.
Under the CIRP, the JCT Mill case remains within the NCLT’s jurisdiction, which seeks to resolve the financial collapse of the company and ensure recoveries for affected stakeholders, including employees.
“The court’s involvement and the appointment of a professional insolvency officer gives us confidence,” said labour leader Mahatam Tiwari. “We are hopeful that this time, the process will not be derailed.”
For the mill’s former employees, who have faced uncertainty and financial hardship since operations ground to a halt, the initiation of formal claims is not just procedural — it is deeply symbolic. It marks a rare moment where justice seems within reach.
