She fought 25 years for Rs 84,will get Rs 2K

Smriti Singh | TNN


New Delhi: It took a woman over a quarter of a century to finally get a sum of Rs 84 as part of bonus from her employer.


In 1984, Padmawati was informed that a bonus of Rs 84 promised to her by her employer M/s Superbazaar co-operative store will not be given. Sixty-six other labourers also learned that they will get no bonus.


I worked in Superbazaar during 1983-1984 as a packer on piece-rate basis.The management declared a bonus for the duration we worked. However, when we asked for it the company refused, recalled Padmawati, who is now 50 years old. All 67 employees then filed a case against the store through their counsel, Ashok Aggarwal.


Even as the hearing began in 1984, it took 15 years for the court to settle the case.While in December 1999, the labour court in Tis Hazari decided in favour of the labourers and directed the store to pay them within three months,the ordeal did not end there.The store moved Delhi high court in 2000 challenging the trial courts order and managed to get a stay. Twenty-five years later on May,2010 the petitioners finally got justice with the cooperative store agreeing before the HC to pay them their due on pro rata basis.


The respondents workmen are directed to appear before the registrar general of this court, along with documents in support of their identity,to get the payment, the court said, expressing concern over the fact that the payments were delayed by over 10 years.


Padmawati will get over Rs 2000, including interest.But she is the least satisfied. I never knew it would take a lifetime before we get our money.I had given up hope.I will get a lot more than Rs 84,but the battle was still not worth giving 25 years, she said.Ashok Aggarwal said, It took a long time but any order in favour of the workers is a landmark judgment.


smriti.singh@timesgroup.com


THE TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI
MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010