Twenty years after his son was found murdered in a factory in the national Capital, 80-year-old Gorakh Nath from Uttar Pradesh is eagerly waiting for the settlement of the two-decade-old compensation petition which will be decided by the AAP Government’s labour Court this week.
Once the compensation plea against his son’s employer is settled, Nath will be one among 1,027 petitioners whose pleas have been settled since October 15.
The settlement of about 85 per cent cases, pending before the labour Courts from five to 25 years, has been possible only due to timely intervention of the Delhi High Court and fast-track approach of the AAP Government.
The positive results happened after the the direct intervention of the Delhi High Court which had ordered the Government to settle 1,192 cases which were 5 to 25 year on a priority. Following which the Government appointed five DANICS officers as Commissioner, Employee’s Compensation, to fast-track hearings.
The speedy process has finally helped in getting 1,026 compensation cases settled till date.
According to officials of the labour Department, there are about 200 more five-year-old and above cases which will be disposed of by October end. “All this has been possible because the AAP Government has issued standing directions that compensation cases should be disposed of on a priority. The Government does not want poor people to suffer in settling compensation pleas.”
Tragedy struck Nath’s family when his 20-year-old son Ranjeet was found murdered inside a factory premises in the Wazirpur Industrial area in July 1996. Ranjeet was working as a helper in a printing press. Since night watchman of the printing press had proceeded on a month’s leave, Ranjeet was told by the management to do his job in his absence. While on duty, Ranjeet was found murdered in a bathroom, which was locked from outside.
When Nath’s family reached Delhi to perform the victim’s last rites, they were shocked to know that his cremation had already taken place. Nath then moved the labour Court seeking compensation for his son who was murdered while performing his duties.
Ranjeet was getting a monthly salary of Rs 1,000. But his father petitioned the labour Court that his son was entitled to a monthly salary of Rs 1,800 as per labour laws. He sought a compensation of Rs 2.50 lakh from his son’s employers.
The matter dragged in the labour Court for over two decades. After about 200-odd hearings, officer finally ruled that he would decide the compensation plea this week.
If the ruling is in favour of Nath, he would be getting the compensation amount he has demanded, plus 50 per cent of the penalty with 9 per cent simple interest. The total compensation package can vary between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.