Bengaluru: Three decades on, retd storekeeper fights for employment benefits

Bengaluru: A 70-year-old retired employee of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru has been running from pillar to post over the last three decades, staking claim for his employment and retirement benefits which he is legally entitled to.

Though court and government orders have ruled in favour of him, the UAS GKVK board has kept the issue in abeyance for reasons best known to them, alleges Syed Hussain, a resident of Teachers Layout, Nagashettihalli in Sanjaynagar.

He joined UAS GKVK in June 1971 as a storekeeper. As his designation was the only one in its category for the entire university, his post remained the same without any increments or promotions for over 15 years. When his appeals to his seniors to look into the issue did not evince any response, he decided to fight it out legally and petitioned a court in 1986.

“In 1987, the board upgraded my post, giving me a small increment and also reassuring me that my case would be considered along with the category of lab assistants, who got salary hikes and promotions regularly. But it never happened until I retired in May 2007,” Mr Hussain said.

“I have put in my service diligently for 45 years, and I have court and government orders in my favour. Still the board is refusing to act. The board might think that I would fight for a while and let it go, but I am in no mood to relent,” he said.

The 70-year-old is now contemplating on filing a contempt petition and a separate petition with the sate legislature alleging the board has misguided the ministry on his lone designation in the University of Agricultural Sciences.

Vice-Chancellor of UAS GKVK, Dr H. Shivanna, told Deccan Chronicle “I assumed charge as VC only one and half years ago, and I have no in-depth knowledge about this case. However, I would go through the case in detail and consider what can be done.”