AUCKLAND (Sachin Sharma): Controversial radio broadcaster Harnek Singh “Neki” has withdrawn his application from court challenging the decision of Employment Relations Authority, which last year had imposed penalty of $1,06, 516 on for non – payment of minimum wages and other benefits to two former employees of a gurdwara.
Employment court judge JC Holden pronounced the “Consent Judgment” on Friday, July 24. The court said that the parties have reached an agreement and have jointly applied to the court for a consent judgment resolving the challenges.
Harpreet Sinh and Jaswinder Singh were employed as Ragis at gurdwara Shirley Road, Auckland. Harnek Singh is convener and treasurer of Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Auckland, that manages the gurdwara’s affairs. ERA in October 2019, had ordered Sri Guru Singh Sabha to pay $32, 133 to Harpreet Singh, $34, 383 to Jaswinder Singh and a penalty of $40, 000 to ERA for underpaying two employees.
Harnek Singh, as convener and treasurer of Sri Guru Singh Sabha had challenged the ERA orders.
The court ordered Sri Guru Singh Sabha to pay both former employees as per the ERA decision and also $8, 000 as costs total ($74, 516.84).
The court ordered that the payment made to stay execution of the determinations of $58,000, plus accrued interest currently held in the Employment Court Trust Account will be released to the defendants, via their representative, directly, and the balance of the $74,516.84 will be paid to them by the plaintiff within three weeks of this judgment.
“The plaintiff will pay $40,000 as penalties to the Registrar of the Employment Court within 7 days of the date of this judgment, for the Registrar to transmit to the Crown account,” the court ordered.
Harnek Singh runs controversial radi0 station – Radio Virsa. He has been facing criticism and complaints for allegedly using derogatory language against Sikh Gurus (masters) and Sikh history. He was excommunicated from Sikh religion by Akal Takht (highest temporal seat of Sikhs) in 2018. Another host of of his radio channel had also apologized recently for using derogatory language against Sikhism on social media. The Broadcasting Standards Authority of New Zealand in June had ticked off Harnek Singh for allegedly instigating violence against Damdami Taksal in his radio talk July last year.