Indian court cites Prophet Muhammad in ruling on unpaid fees
Court invokes Islamic ethical principle on timely wages, highlighting universal standards of justice, labor rights, and fair compensation in India
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — An Indian high court has cited a saying of Prophet Muhammad recorded in Islamic hadith while ruling on a dispute over unpaid legal fees, invoking the principle of timely and fair payment to underscore broader standards of justice in labor and service matters.
The observation came from the Madras High Court, where Justice G.R. Swaminathan referred to the prophetic saying, “pay the worker before his sweat dries,” while hearing a petition filed by a former lawyer against a municipal corporation.
The judge said the principle reflected a core facet of fairness and was directly applicable to labor jurisprudence and professional services rendered to public bodies.
The case involved P. Thirumalai, a former standing counsel for the Madurai City Municipal Corporation, who said the civic body failed to clear his legal fees amounting to 1.30 million Indian rupees ($15,700).
Thirumalai had served as the corporation’s counsel for more than 14 years, from 1992 to 2006, and represented it in approximately 818 cases before district courts in Madurai.
Court records showed that the high court had earlier directed the corporation to examine the lawyer’s claim. While the civic body subsequently rejected a substantial portion of the amount, the court noted that the dispute had lingered for nearly 18 years, warranting a final resolution.
Legal observers say the reference is significant in a country where courts generally avoid citing religious sources, particularly Islamic ones, in formal rulings. The invocation stood out not as a theological endorsement but as recognition that long-established ethical teachings can reinforce contemporary legal norms on dignity of labor and fairness.
The court’s reliance on the saying comes amid wider debates in India over labor rights, delayed payments, and the treatment of professionals and workers by state institutions.
Analysts note that by grounding its reasoning in a widely recognized Islamic principle, the court highlighted the universality of justice values that transcend religious boundaries.
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