Gratuity not paid eventhough releived due to closure of institute

I was working as a permanent faculty in a private state university of Gujarat for 4 years and 11 months and 3 days. I was relieved in May 2015 after obtaining 3 months of notice period due to the closure of my department and institute. But the university is still working there at the same place and had started some other institute which does not need my qualifications. The university did not give me gratuity as they said I do not have "5 years of service". I didn't resign, but I was relieved due to the closure of my department. Also, the deficient in-service days would have been my vacation period if my employment would have continued. I had also provided them with the judgement of honorable Madras high court (Mettur Beardsell Ltd case) and also the judgement of honorable Supreme court (Surendra Varma case of 1980), but they asked me to bring any relevant and recent judgements of either honorable Gujarat high court only or of Supreme court, as such old judgement might have many revisions and they do not consider another state judgements. Kindly guide me what to do and share any such relevant judgement of honourable Gujarat high court or Supreme court. Thanks in advance.

Dear Anamika, Please contact jurisdictional Controlling Authority i.e Assistant Labour Commissioner together with all relevant Documents immediately.The Authority will adjudicate the matter.In support of your claim you rely on the judgements which you have referred

Thanks, Mr.Srinath Sai Ram for your quick response. What do you suggest sir, should I use professional legal paid service for filling this case in labor office or fight it on my own.. as the case may go for few months requiring a frequent visit to the labor office.

Pl approach labour office first.
Sometimes one or two visits ensures that they job is done.
Hiring lawyers will be costly.Wait for some time.

Hello,
Your case is strong and to put forward before Controlling or appellant authority under the statute. As you worked 4 years >240 days in the same institute and you we were asked to resign as you were redundant.
You may seek help with a local legal practitioner who help you out to move a strong representation with facts and citations.
Regards,
Gajendra Verma

Hi,
Mr. Nathrao, has a right point. Approach the ALC first, you may get a resolution then and there then why to hire a legal practitioner at first spot? And if there is no solution you get then you always have court's door open for you.

For every problem seek the simplest and direct solution.
First approach the company with problems and if not sorted out then approach concerned labour officer.
Court is the last resort.
Legal approach is expensive and time consuming.
Quite possible you may end up spending more moeny on lawyer fees than the gratuity itself.

Hope the querist gives a feedback.
Has he approached the Labour commissioner of the area?
Advice is given by many learned members and result of advice needs to be known to all readers of the forum.

Thanks a lot to all of you for your valuable suggestions.
Steps i had taken till date:
(Teaching Employment period: June,2010 - May, 2015; 29 days less in 5 years of service)
1) sent a request letter demanding for gratuity (and also quoting in it the supreme court judgement of surendra verma) to the universities executive registrar through personal visit on Nov,2017 (- No response obtained yet)
2) send the "Form I" of gratuity act for demanding gratuity to the universities executive registrar thorough registered post with A.D. on Dec,2017 (- No response obtained yet)
3) send the "RTI Form" for getting information from the director of labor, department of labor and employment, gandhinagar head office, government of Gujarat regarding
a) provide details of cases similar to my case which came in labor department
b) important judgements of supreme court and high court used by the labor department for solving such cases ;
through personal visit on Dec,2017 (- No response obtained yet)
What should be my next set of actions?
Can i also demand for cessation or retrenchment compensation? (although i was provided with 3 months (less 2 days) of notice period as i was a permanent employee, but i remained unemployed for few months after being relieved.)

Dear Adindi, Now, without any further delay approach Controlling Authority & file your Petition.In the petition mention that the University did not pay Gratuity on the ground that your Service was less than 5 Years. Whereas, now you are filing your Petition relying on Chennai High Court Judgement.Please mention in your petition that you are liable for interest @ 10% PA from the date of relieving from Service.Please do not focus more on RTI