Supreme Court Orders Asset Review Amid Assam Tea Corporation Crisis

The Supreme Court has directed the Assam Tea Corporation Limited to provide details of its assets as the state opts against further funding. The court is considering the sale of tea gardens to settle dues owed to workers. A hearing is set for December 9.

In a critical move, the Supreme Court has mandated the Assam Tea Corporation Limited (ATCL) to disclose its complete asset profile, following the Assam government's decision not to inject additional funds into the beleaguered enterprise. ATCL, which manages 14 tea estates, has been unable to disburse salaries and dues.

The case was tabled by Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, highlighting the state's unsuccessful attempts to salvage ATCL financially. With the company's financial crisis worsening, the court is contemplating selling its tea gardens to resolve worker dues.

The court has set December 9 for the subsequent hearing. ATCL's counsel and government representatives have argued that the corporation lacks the financial capacity to clear ongoing and past debts, citing the state's financial deficit as a contributing factor.

(With inputs from agencies.)