Statutory benefits must be disbursed to construction workers following timely verification and in accordance with established judicial precedents.

Several writ petitions were filed by building and construction workers against the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. The petitioners sought the grant of statutory benefits and the disposal of pending claim applications.

Three petitions [W.P.(C) 6935/2026, 6984/2026, and 5336/2026] were identified as being covered by existing judicial precedents.

Another petition [W.P.(C) 5109/2026] sought similar relief based on established Division Bench rulings.

For the remaining petitions, the workers sought a direction for the Board to decide their pending claims in accordance with the law.

1. Whether the petitioners are entitled to the release of benefits and interest in light of existing Division Bench precedents governing construction worker welfare claims

2. Whether the respondent Board is obligated to decide pending claim applications within a specific timeline following physical verification

The Court applied the statutory framework of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, and the Delhi Rules framed thereunder.

It specifically relied on the precedents established in Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board v. Dulari Devi, 2024 SCC OnLine Del 3148, and National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour v. Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Board, 2024 SCC OnLine Del 1257, which clarified entitlement to welfare benefits.

Furthermore, it applied the principle from Rajo v. Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, 2023 SCC OnLine Del 2185, regarding the mandatory disbursement of interest on delayed payments.

The Court noted the respondent's concession that the petitioners' claims must be considered in accordance with the law.

By linking the facts of the present petitions to the rules of law established in Dulari Devi and National Campaign Committee, the Court determined that the petitioners in the first four mentioned petitions were legally entitled to the relief sought.

For the remaining claims, the Court reasoned that while entitlements are subject to physical verification, the Board cannot indefinitely delay the decision-making process.

The Court integrated the rule from the Rajo case to ensure that any delay in disbursement is compensated by admissible interest, thereby protecting the workers' socio-economic rights.

For the remaining petitions [W.P.(C) 5112/2026, 5714/2026, and 5346/2026], the Court directed the respondent Board to conduct physical verification and conclude the claims process within eight weeks.

The Board was further ordered to disburse the necessary amounts along with interest as per the Rajo judgment.

All petitions were disposed of accordingly.