PANJIM: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) on Wednesday directed the Goa State Co-operative Bank Limited to pay retiral benefits of Rs 6,50,514 to its worker Shantaram Haldankar, who retired from service in September 2005.
The three-member Commission comprising chairperson Justice u V Bakre and members Desmond D’Costa and Pramod Kamat also recommended that the Registrar of Co-operative Societies (RCS) facilitate that the Bank pay the retiral benefits to its worker with simple interest thereon at eight per cent per annum from September 1, 2005 till actual payment, within a month.
Haldankar, a resident of Aldona, had filed a complaint before the GHRC in May last year stating that he retired from service in August 2005 and for last 15 years he had not received his dues. Following a complaint, the Commission called for reports from the RCS and the Goa State Co-operative Bank Limited.
After going through the reports, the Commission found that the Bank had chargesheeted the complainant and the inquiry report dated September 15, 2006 held that in nine out of 10 cases, charges were proved against him.
The bank further stated that a charge sheet filed against Haldankar under Section 293 of IPC was also pending before the court and admitted that dues of leave encashment and gratuity were not released to the complainant.
The GHRC while referring to a book, `Retiral Benefits as Human Rights’ published by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Delhi, stated that right to receive retiral benefits was one of the most important human rights and the Commission plays the role of a facilitator. The non-payment and delayed payments was a violation of the human rights of the victim, it said.
The Commission also referred to the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court, which had observed that if the issue related to payment of re-fixation of pay or pension, relief may be granted in spite of delay as it does not affect the rights of third parties.
