PANAJI
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has recommended that the North Goa Collector amend the memorandum dated October 30, 2024, to withdraw a clause stating that no compensatory leave shall be granted to staff attending offices on Saturdays.
The recommendation comes after a marathon hearing on a petition filed by anonymous employees from the offices of the Mamlatdars of Bardez, Pernem, Tiswadi, Bicholim, and Valpoi, who alleged unfair treatment, irregular work distribution, excessive workload for select employees, lack of compensatory benefits, workplace threats, and violations of their rights. The petitioners claimed it was impacting their overall well-being in the detailed petition filed last month.
The Commission thereafter issued a notice to the respondent “ the North Goa Collector “ whose reply justified that the memorandum was issued by the Order dated September 14, 2022, of the Revenue Department and the High Court of Bombay at Goa’s Order dated March 31, 2023, in a bid to clear the backlog of pending cases.
While acknowledging that the Collector’s actions were to expeditiously dispose of the pending cases under the Tenancy and Mundkar Acts, the GHRC noted that neither the High Court’s order nor the government’s directive explicitly stated that compensatory leave would not be granted to government servants. The order mandated specially designated Mamlatdars to hold revenue courts on Saturdays for the timely disposal of cases but did not mention the denial of compensatory leave.
The Commission further cited the provisions of the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, which stipulate that government servants, except gazetted officers, who work on holidays must be granted compensatory leave. The rule also states that such leave should generally be availed within a month.
Observing that the memorandum’s clause denying compensatory leave amounts to a violation of human rights, the GHRC asserted that it contradicts the Office Memorandum dated August 11, 1976, of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972.
“Accordingly, the Collector of North Goa District shall amend the Memorandum dated October 30, 2024, to the extent of withdrawing that part of the Memorandum that no compensatory off shall be granted to the staff who are attending the offices on Saturdays,” reads the recommendation order by Acting Chairperson Desmond D’Costa and Member Pramod Kamat.
