Staff of social work colleges entitled to pension, gratuity: HC

The state government had contended that grant of such benefits would impose additional financial burden on its Social Welfare Department (SWD).

The court passed the order Friday after acting on a group of petitions filed by employees of a Pune-based college and members of the “Maharashtra Association of Social Work Educators”.

On July 21, 1983, the state government had extended the retirement benefits to the staff of all the government-affiliated colleges under the state’s education department. The teaching and non-teaching staff of colleges under the SWD were , however, excluded.

The Bombay HC’s Nagpur bench had, on June 10 last year, allowed similar petitions, but extended benefit only to those who had retired after January 27, 2012 (date on which the first writ petition was filed before it).

While granting relief to 59 employees, Justice Oka ruled, “The arrears up to May 31, 2014, shall be paid to all concerned on or before July 15, 2014. Pension shall be released regularly with effect from June 1, 2014.”

aamir.khan@expressindia.com