Kochi: The Kerala High Court directed the state government to eradicate 'nokkukooli', since it is tarnishing the state's image, reports PTI. The court was hearing a plea filed by a Kollam based businessman over the practice.
The court observed that nokkukooli or 'gawking wages' which was already banned in the state in 2018 but is still in practice. Justice Devan Ramachandran said that the rights of workers should be protected in a legal manner, but petitions against the practice are on the rise in the state.
Nokkukooli is the practice in Kerala where head loaders charge money for gawking or staring at people loading or unloading cargo.
The court said that this is surprising even after the court had banned it in 2018. The state government had not adequately implemented the ban on the issue, it noted.
The court ordered the government pleader to obtain information from the State Police Chief on why the previous ban had failed to implement. It also wants to know the steps and interventions by police officials on various levels of power to enforce the order. The court impleaded the Kerala DGP and sent him a notice.