PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) to pay all its employees salary as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission with arrears since January 1, 2018.
The Court also directed the Goa IDC to extend benefits of the 7th Pay Commission to pensioners as well with arrears.
Hearing a miscellaneous civil application filed by the Goa IDC Retired Staff Welfare Association through its president Uday Manguesh Rege and two other Associations of GIDC Employees the Court said that the arrears from January 1, 2018 must be paid to all employees within a maximum of six months from the date of the order. Further, the Court clarified that in so far as the employees who had retired before January 1, 2018 are concerned, the arrears would mean the arrears towards the revised pension. The salaries, revised pensions, and other emoluments, according to the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, must start within three months from the date of the order.
The petitioners had sought to implement the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission by arguing that some other Corporations had already implemented such recommendations. The petitioners also pointed out some Goa Industrial Development Corporation resolutions that implement the service conditions generally applicable to government employees.
During the pendency of this petition, the GIDC, a statutory Corporation established by State legislation, in its 385th meeting of the board of directors held on June 21, 2023, unanimously resolved to pay 7th Pay Commission arrears to all staff of Goa-IDC with effect from January 1, 2018 as proposed in the agenda note, subject to the condition that this shall be applicable where there is no pending litigation. Further resolved that wherever there is pending litigation, the payment of 7th Pay Commission arrears shall be put on hold till the resolution of the litigation. “Resolved further that the Managing Director be and is hereby authorised to take all further necessary action in the matter.”
