TGHRC Orders Action over Delayed Salary Payment to Retired Engineer
The complainant had served as an Executive Engineer in the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) from October 23, 2015 to February 24, 2017
Hyderabad: Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC), headed by chairperson Dr. Justice Shameem Akther passed an order concerning the prolonged delay in payment of salary to a retired Executive Engineer and the consequent difficulties faced by him in complying with Income Tax requirements.
The complainant had served as an Executive Engineer in the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) from October 23, 2015 to February 24, 2017. His grievance was that his salary for the said period was not paid regularly and was ultimately paid in a lump sum of Rs.14,24,488 in October, 2018, after his Last Pay Certificate (LPC) was received from his previous station of posting.
He further complained that the requisite Form-16, bill-wise particulars and details relating to TDS remittances were not furnished to him in time, resulting in show cause notices from the Income Tax Department regarding non-filing of Income Tax Returns.
The Commission, on consideration of the reports submitted by the authorities concerned, observed that there had been a delay of more than one year in payment of the complainant’s salary. The Commission held that when an employee is transferred, the administrative authorities concerned are required to ensure timely transmission of the Service Register, LPC and other connected service records to the transferred station, so as to ensure continuity of service benefits and timely payment of salary.
The Commission further observed that salary is not merely an administrative benefit but the legitimate remuneration earned by an employee for services rendered. Prolonged withholding of salary has serious consequences for the financial security, livelihood and dignity of an employee and his family.
The Commission noted that the delayed payment of salary and non-furnishing of the requisite Form-16 and other Income Tax-related particulars had resulted in the complainant receiving Show Cause Notices from the Income Tax Department.
The Commission accordingly found laches on the part of the Heads of Departments, namely, the Engineer-in-Chief, Public Health Engineering and Municipal Administration Department, Hyderabad, and the Commissioner, Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation, Warangal, in ensuring timely transmission of the complainant’s LPC and consequential payment of salary.
In exercise of the powers vested in it under Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the Commission recommended the Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat, Hyderabad, to examine the grievance of the complainant and take necessary action in relation to the delayed payment of salary and issuance of Form-16 (Income Tax Certificate) in respect of the period from October, 2015 to February, 2017.
With the above recommendation, further proceedings in the case were closed.
