Supreme Court Affirms Pension Rights for Long-Serving Temporary Workers
Temporary workers eligible for pension, Supreme Court rules
Image: Mathrubhumi English
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that long-serving temporary employees are entitled to pension benefits, ordering the Centre to release dues within three months. This decision emphasizes that such workers cannot be denied retirement benefits due to lack of formal regularization.
- 01The Supreme Court ruled that long-serving temporary employees cannot be denied pension benefits based on their employment status.
- 02The Centre has been ordered to compute and release pensionary benefits within three months, with interest accruing at 6% per annum for delays.
- 03The court emphasized that pension is a constitutional right earned through years of service and should not be treated as a discretionary benefit.
- 04The ruling applies to former employees of the Department of Posts who served as casual labourers for decades.
- 05The Supreme Court criticized the Patna High Court's interpretation of the relevant employment scheme and declared it unsustainable.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has determined that long-serving temporary employees, specifically those who worked for the Department of Posts as casual labourers, are entitled to pension benefits despite not being formally regularized. The court ordered the Centre to calculate and disburse these pensionary benefits within three months, stating that any delay would incur interest at 6% per annum. The bench, comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and A.G. Masih, highlighted that pension is not merely a benefit but a constitutional right accrued through years of service. The court criticized the previous ruling by the Patna High Court for misinterpreting the employment scheme for casual workers, which aimed to integrate such employees into regular service frameworks. The Supreme Court reiterated that the state has a duty to ensure social and economic justice, affirming that all employees, regardless of their formal status, should receive benefits comparable to their regular counterparts.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The ruling will directly benefit long-serving temporary employees of the Department of Posts, ensuring they receive their rightful pension benefits.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you support the Supreme Court's ruling on pension rights for temporary workers?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.