Clarification For Pension And Gratuity Payments In Banks

I was removed from a nationalized bank, but this removal had not disqualified me for future employment, Also it was stated in the Disciplinary Authority's orders and also in the administrative orders that "the period of suspension will not count for qualifying service for pensioner purposes".
This said orders were served to me on 05/12/2001. But, at that time I was facing a CBI case in a CBI court, on the same issues mentioned in the departmental chargeshhet where on the said final orders were given by dA abd the management.
ON 30th April, 2010, I was aquitted by CBi court. then after waiting for three months from the date of judgement of cBI court, I represented to bank management for release of pension. then I was remnding the bvank's management but neither pension nor the gratuity nor the Group insurance scheme proceeds nor the leave encashment was given to me. Now, I representd to the CMD of the Bank, who had called for the comments for the Zonal office in turn the zO had called for the comments from the regional office where from I last served the bank.
I was put on suspension from 30/03/1998 to 05/12/2001. I joined the bank on 21/08/1970.
The concerned offices are stating that they do not possess any record or file of mine since the matter is of 17 /20 years old. I have all records copies including the last drawn 10 months particulars etc.,

My request is whether am I eligible for pension, gratuity and other benefits men toned staed above. and if so whether full pension or reduced amount,
as I am thinking to go to court, please guide me at the earliest of what action should I take and how to proceed.
Thanks & Regards

being known of all the facts of your service, you can represent you case before appropriate authorities through a good labour lawyer of your area. rest of your queries, I leave to our elite members to share their views.

Pension, gratuity and other terminal benefits of bank employees (nationalized and scheduled banks other than new generation banks) are as per the tri partite settlements made from time to time. Therefore, we are unable to comment on your case. In your case, if the order of discharge was passed with a comment that you would be entitled to all terminal benefits it should be deemed to be a discharge simpliciter and in such situation, you will be entitled to gratuity and pension as per the LTS in force. Since you are not disqualified for future employment (with banks?) and by now the CBI has acquitted, your case seems to be one without any stigma. In such a scenario I don’t think that the management is right in holding the gratuity and pension.

The second thing is that the bank has not rejected the application for granting of gratuity and pension benefits. If rejected also it was done without giving the employee any opportunity to be heard or without invoking section 4(6)(b) of the Payment of Gratuity Act which says that gratuity shall be forfeited where the employee has been dismissed for an offence involving moral turpitude. Section 4(6)(a) provides for partial forfeiture to the extent of loss caused to the employer by the conduct of the employee. Still there should be sufficient reasons for forfeiture of gratuity.

In State Bank of Travancore Vs Asst. Labour Commissioner, the Kerala High Court had dismissed the petitioner’s plea that the employee was not entitled to gratuity since his services were terminated on charges of misconduct involving riotous and disorderly behavior. The Court had then examined that the punishment of dismissal was a discharge simpliciter with superannuation benefits and without disqualification from future employment. The court also observed that the order of forfeiture of gratuity was communicated to him after the employee submitted his request/ application for grant of gratuity.

It would be worth reading the full text of the above case because the issue raised before the Controlling Authority under the Payment of Gratuity Act were not merely whether the terminated employee was entitled to gratuity or not but on the rate on which the amount of gratuity would be calculated. The gratuity rules of the bank stipulated for a higher rate rather than what is statutory as per the Act. That is why I suggested that you should refer to the terms and conditions pertaining to terminal benefits as per settlement in force between your Union and the Management of your Bank.

For your reference I have attached the above mentioned case.

Madhu.T.K

Need format/specimen copy of appeal (from Employer) before the Dy. Commissioner Labour (Central) Agst. the order of asst. Commissioner Labour (Central) for Payment of gratuity act. Employer forfeit the Part gratuity agst the financial loss to the bank.

Please find the attachments
Madhu T K