The untimely death of Raman Garase, a dedicated gardener who served at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay for 39 years, has ignited a fervent call for justice amidst revelations of a protracted legal battle over post-retirement benefits.
Raman Garase tragically took his own life on May 1, 2024, following a prolonged struggle against IIT Bombay to obtain his post-retirement gratuity benefits. His death has reverberated through legal circles, prompting the All India Lawyer's Association For Justice to issue a compelling statement condemning the institute's actions.
The Association's statement unequivocally denounces IIT Bombay's handling of Raman Garase's case, decrying the institution's use of prolonged litigation to evade its obligation to provide minimum statutory benefits owed to its employees. It labels the situation as "deeply reprehensible" and highlights the stark reality faced by long-serving workers who are denied their rightful entitlements even after decades of dedicated service.
The statement sheds light on the plight faced by Raman Garase and two other retirees, who were denied post-retirement gratuity benefits despite retiring on December 31, 2019. The subsequent struggle to acquire their dues from the IIT administration culminated in a distressing outcome, underscoring systemic issues within the institution's treatment of its workforce.
According to the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC IIT Bombay), which brought attention to this issue, IIT Bombay's justification that Raman Garase remained a "temporary employee" after 39 years of service, thereby rendering him ineligible for gratuity, is indicative of broader challenges confronting workers in similar circumstances.
The All India Lawyer's Association For Justice firmly asserts that gratuity is not a discretionary benefit but rather the hard-earned entitlement of employees for their long and meritorious service. The association demands immediate action from IIT Bombay to release the gratuity amount owed to Raman Garase's family and all other retired workers, emphasizing the misuse of taxpayer money in protracted legal battles that deprive workers of their rightful dues.
The statement, undersigned by President Maitreyi and General Secretary Clifton D' Rozario, concludes with a resounding condemnation of using litigation as a dilatory tactic to withhold workers' legitimate entitlements, reflecting the collective stance of the legal fraternity against such injustices.
Raman Garase's tragic demise has ignited a broader discourse on labor rights and the imperative for institutions to uphold their obligations to their workforce, resonating deeply within legal circles and galvanizing calls for accountability and reform.