Woman to get statutory dues after 27 yrs of legal battle

KOLKATA, April 1: After 27 years of making the rounds of the courtroom, a woman whose services were terminated has received justice from the Calcutta High Court.The Division Bench of Mr SS Nijjar, Chief Justice and Mr Justice Subhra Kamal Mukherjee of Calcutta High Court held that all salary, allowance service benefits were to be paid from the state exchequer to Ms Jamuna Rani Palai, a matron of Frasergunj Krishna Prasad Adarsha Vidya Vidyapith. The judgement marked the end of her travails which started way back from 29 July, 1980, the date of her termination order. Appointed in April, 1970 which was approved of three months later, the service of Ms Palai was terminated without serving charge sheet and without complying with the statutory provisions, it was held. Though the termination was affected within three months from the date of show cause, no resolution was adopted by the managing committee which was never able to produce the resolution and relevant records before the trial court or the appeal court, the Division Bench pointed out. Neither the state government nor the Board of Secondary Education fielded any reply. Such reply was not found to be given despite the court's direction in these proceedings, it was observed.All these proceedings were completely fabricated, baseless and without any material foundation, the Division Bench observed. The managing committee affirmed an affidavit before the appeal court that the resolution and relevant records are not traceable in the custody of the school, the judgement pointed out.In the process, the managing committee harassed Ms Palai for 27 years, it was observed. She was deprived completely of the enjoyment of her right which was guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, it was further observed by the Division Bench, upholding an earlier judgement of Mr Justice Pratap Kumar Ray of this court ordering her reinstatement. Appearing for the petitioner Mr Mantu Behari Maiti submitted that without show cause and charge sheet, the service of the petitioner was terminated.Statesman News Service