PANAJI
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has pulled up the Goa State Co-operative Bank for continuing to withhold a retired employee’s terminal benefits even after he was discharged from a criminal case.
The Commission recommended that the bank pay Rs 10,000 as costs to complainant Trimbak Verlekar.
“The delay is unjustified, arbitrary and unreasonable, resulting in prolonged deprivation of access to his own money, affecting his dignity, financial security and peace of mind,” the Commission observed in its inquiry report released on Monday.
Verlekar, who retired from the bank on April 30, 2008 after 35 years of service, complained that Rs 7.13 lakh of his retiral benefits was kept under lien because of a criminal case relating to alleged investment irregularities. He argued that despite being discharged by the Sessions Court, the bank neither released the amount nor responded to his repeated representations.
The Commission noted that although the bank eventually decided to lift the lien and informed Verlekar on July 9, 2026 that he could collect the fixed deposit receipt, the decision came only after he approached the GHRC.
“Despite having knowledge of the said order... the respondent bank didn’t release the complainant's amount. Respondent did not even bother to reply or communicate,” the report said.
Holding the bank's conduct to be “highly objectionable”, the Commission said the prolonged withholding of retiral benefits caused unnecessary hardship and amounted to arbitrary administrative action.
The GHRC directed the bank to pay Rs 10,000 within one month, failing which the amount will carry 8 per cent annual interest. It also said the bank would be at liberty to recover the amount from the erring officers, if it so chooses.
