Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Sep 24: Sumathi Bai from Moodbidri, who retired after serving the revenue department in the capacity of a typist for 32 years, has charged the department of not disbursing terminal benefits to her after her retirement. She said that her demand is backed by labour court order and Supreme Court judgement and she is financially distressed because of the department's apathy.

Addressing a press meet here on Thursday September 23, she pointed out that as per the verdict delivered by the Supreme Court on April 10, 2006 in Umadevi case, services of all those who were serving different departments on daily wage basis were to be regularised. In addition, the labour court, through an order dated August 13 last, had ordered the revenue department to pay her a sum of Rs 4,27,280 along with interest at 10 percent per annum interest from July 1, 2019 onward till the amount is deposited with the competent authority. She said this amount has also not been credited to her bank account so far.

"Services of six persons including me were regularised by Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner in 2006 but the department failed to confirm our services. After nine years, in May 2015, the deputy commissioner, in response to request made by daily wagers, approved the regularization of their services, but the problem continued as appointment order was not issued," she explained.

When the matter was then taken up with the secretary in the department he asked the same to be handled as per the verdict in the Umadevi case. When information was sought through the right to information act, we got the information that the file is under consideration. Even after two and half years, money was not paid and therefore labour court was approached, which issued favourable orders but even after 40 days thereafter, no amount has been disbursed, she stated. Sumathi says she is facing acute financial constraints due to the negligence of the department.