The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a wage board provision that requires newspaper and news agency owners to pay the income taxes of their employees.
The four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Md Adbul Wahhab Miah issued the verdict after hearing an appeal filed by the government against a High Court rule.
The High Court rule in 1997 scrapped the fourth wage board provision over a petition filed by the owners of the Daily Ittefaq, the Sangbad, the Inqilab, the Khobor and the Azadi.
The state filed a leave-to-appeal against the High Court verdict which was granted on February 2, 2003. The state that year filed a regular appeal which was heard yesterday.
Deputy Attorney General Rashed Jahangir Shuvra said after the verdict the owners are obligated to pay the income tax of their employees.
