Allahabad HC Imposes ₹ 1 Lakh Fine on Basic Education Department For Not Paying Woman Peon’s Salary

The Allahabad High Court has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on the Basic Education Department in Banda for not paying the prescribed salary despite hiring a woman peon as a full-time employee. The woman retired in 2016 after working for 45 years at a salary of Rs 15. She approached the High Court twice but could not secure her rights. The court has ordered the payment of the outstanding salary along with damages.

Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamsheri issued this decision while disposing of the 14-year-old pending petition of Bhagonia Devi from the Banda district. Bhagonia Devi was appointed as a maid in Girls Junior High School, operated under the Basic Education Department, in 1971 at a salary of Rs 15. In 1981, she was promoted to a full-time peon, and her salary was fixed at Rs 165. However, it was not granted.

 Against this, she approached the High Court in 1985. The court directed Basic Education Officer Banda to settle the salary-related demand. BSA refused to pay the salary of Rs 165, stating that her services and salary were not approved, and the appointment was irregular. In 1996, their full-time service was abolished. However, she continued working until 2016.

 In 2010, she once again approached the High Court demanding a fixed salary. She retired in 2016, but the Basic Education Department did not pay the increased salary. Despite 35 years of full-time service, the salary remained at only Rs 15 per month. The court stated that the petitioner did not challenge the order of cancellation of the full-time appointment, but there is no dispute that she had been working as a full-time peon for a long time. Therefore, the order appointing the petitioner as a full-time peon is acceptable.

The court ordered the payment of Rs 69,300 for 35 years of service at the rate of Rs 165 from the date of the full-time appointment of the petitioner. Additionally, the Basic Education Department has been ordered to pay compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the petitioner for forcing her to come to the court twice.

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