State Water Resources Minister Jagdanand Singh, who was heading the team of the government in negotiation, said here today that ``the ball is in the employees' court'' and the government had made its stand clear on the issue.

``We have already announced to set up a committee headed by a sitting high court judge to rectify the anomalies of the recommendation of the fitment committee, and ``they would have to accept its recommendation''.

Urging the striking employees to return to their work in the larger interest of the state and people, he reiterated that the Bihar Government was firm on the ``no work no pay'' policy.

Singh hoped that the matter would be solved soon. He appealed to the employees' unions to understand the problems and come to a settlement through amicable discussion.

The employees unionshad charged the state government with ignoring their demands. They alleged that the fitment committee had recommended several anomalies in the pay scale which should be equal with their Union Government counterparts.

The unions were finalising a strategy to intensify their agitation to pressurise the authorities to accept their demands.

Meanwhile, the joint action committee of the employees urged Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav to intervene into the ongoing strike and to concede all the genuine demands of the employees.