The Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) has directed Raigad district administration, Khopoli Municipal Council (KMC) and Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) to clear all retirement dues with interest of a retired assistant estate manager within a month. The complainant, a 62-year-old woman, did not get any retirement benefits as she opted for voluntary retirement a year before she was supposed to retire. The tribunal has also directed the state to conduct an inquiry and fix the responsibility for the delay.

The case

The complainant, Namita Talkar, worked with the Khopoli Municipal Council from 1995 to 2013 and thereafter she was transferred to PMC where she worked as an assistant estate manager from July 10, 2013 to August 31, 2017. She was supposed to retire on December 31, 2018 after attaining the age of superannuation, however she opted for voluntary retirement, which was sanctioned by the commissioner and director of municipal administration and municipal council administration in an order dated July 25, 2018. The order was sent to PMC for further action to release her retirement benefits.