PANAJI
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has directed the Directorate of Education and the management of Deepvihar Higher Secondary School to ensure the payment of over Rs 3.39 lakh in pending General Provident Fund (GPF) dues to a retired laboratory attendant, along with interest. The Commission held that retirement benefits cannot be withheld indefinitely after an employee retires.
In its order issued on Wednesday, the Commission — comprising Chairperson Justice Bharat Deshpande and members Desmond D’Costa and Pramod Kamat — recommended that retired employee Jesus Conceicao Fernandes be paid the remaining 10 per cent of his GPF amount, totalling Rs 3,39,118. It also directed that simple interest at 6 per cent per annum be paid from June 1, 2023, until the date of payment.
Fernandes had approached the Commission in February this year, stating that the balance GPF amount had not been paid even nearly three years after his retirement.
During the hearing, the complainant’s lawyer argued that pension and retirement benefits are not optional payments, but legal rights earned through years of service. He said the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that such benefits are not “bonuses” but rightful dues of employees.
The Directorate of Education said the delay was due to the school management not submitting pension papers on time. The school, later added as a party to the case, said Fernandes completed the required documents for final withdrawal of the GPF on June 17, 2025, and the papers were then sent for processing.
The Commission noted that responsibility for the delay must be fixed if it resulted from administrative lapses. It said that if the school management is not found responsible, any recoverable amount should be deducted from government grants given to the institution.
The GHRC also directed the department to identify the officer or authority responsible for the delay and recover the amount from those found guilty, after giving them a chance to be heard. The Commission has asked for a compliance report within 60 days, by August 24.
