The Tripura government has decided to implement the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 including its amendment made in 2018 for the retired employees of different PSUs and Boards.
With the implementation of the amendment provision of ceiling amount for Rs 20 lakh came into force with effect from 29 March, 2018 for the retired employees.
In this regard, a meeting was chaired by the Advocate General, Siddhartha Shankar Dey in presence of the Industries and Commerce secretary, Dr Parshant Kumar Goyal, directors and officials of different PSUs and Boards in January last.
During the meeting the Advocate General explained and briefed the officials present in the position of the said Act along with its nature of applicability in the state in case of considering the payment of gratuity to the employees of different PSUs, Boards under the different administrative departments of the government of Tripura.
The secretary pointed out the difficulties being faced by the industries and commerce department being the administrative department of TIDC Ltd, TTDC Ltd, TSIC Ltd, TKVIB, TJML etc. in giving consent, approval of the government towards payment of gratuity amount from time to time as per Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 read with the amendment, 2018 that become effective from 29th March, 2018 and problems in filing counter reply to the cases related to gratuity matters being filled by the employees of different PSUs before the High Court of Tripura involving administrative departments party in it.
Additional director of industries and commerce, Kaizar Dev Barma pointed out the outcome of the Court orders imposing 7 percent interest by the High Court in favour of the employees claiming payment of gratuity by filing writ petitions to the High Court and reasons thereof also losing the cases.
It was decided that to comply the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 in case of the employees of PSUs, Boards only retired on or after the amendment with effect from March 29, 2018 strictly and not in case of any employee who are retired prior to amendment of the said act of Payment of Gratuity, 1972 in any circumstances.
However, in may payment is made to any employee of PSUs, Boards under the different administrative departments as per the ceiling amount of Rs 20 lakh prior to amendment to this Act the amount paid in excess would be recovered from the concerned employees by taking initiatives through administrative department.
Courtesy The Rise East
