Lost job for misconduct? PSU bank employees may still be eligible for pension; check Bipartite Settlement and eligibility rules
Supreme Court ruling allows PSU bank employees dismissed for misconduct to receive pension if they meet Bipartite Settlement criteria.Summary
The Supreme Court ruled that a PSU bank employee dismissed for misconduct can still receive pension and terminal benefits if the Bipartite Settlement allows it. The case involved Mr. Kumar, who was dismissed in 1998 for assaulting a colleague. The Court upheld the High Court's decision, stating that the Bipartite Settlement, which is a statutory agreement, must be read harmoniously with pension regulations. This means that if an employee is removed for misconduct after completing 10 years of service, they are entitled to superannuation benefits as per Clause 6(b) of the Settlement, provided they have qualified for pensionary benefits. The judgment reinforces that collective bargaining rights cannot be rendered meaningless by restrictive interpretations of service regulations.
(Source：The Economic Times)