The Karnataka High Court has directed the postal department to release 36 months of withheld salary and arrears to a woman rural postal employee within two weeks, warning that the dues will attract 6% annual interest if payment is delayed.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna issued the direction while hearing a writ petition filed by the Director General of the Central Postal Department, Bengaluru division. The petition had sought the setting aside of an order issued by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) concerning the employee’s temporary appointment.
The High Court also directed the postal department to pay ₹50,000 in litigation costs to the employee, identified as Sakkubai A. Badiger. The court expressed strong displeasure over the department withholding her salary for three years while she continued to work and faced multiple rounds of litigation.
According to the case details reported by Prajavani, Sakkubai had been appointed as a Gramin Dak Sevak at the Mugilahal and Yaragatti branch offices in Belagavi district on compassionate grounds. The appointment followed the death of her father, Arjun Kalappa Badiger, who had served as a Branch Postmaster and died on June 28, 2010.
Sakkubai, who was 30 when the appointment was made, has continued in service for 16 years. Her appointment remained temporary after the department objected that married women were not eligible for compassionate appointment. She subsequently challenged the department’s steps to fill the post.
The CAT directed the department to take steps towards regularising her temporary appointment. Following that order, Sakkubai approached the court seeking release of her salary and arrears. The High Court’s latest direction requires the department to pay the 36 months of salary and other dues within two weeks of receiving a copy of the order.
The court said the department’s conduct was contrary to the constitutional guarantee protecting the dignity of workers and prohibiting exploitation. It observed that respect for workers’ dignity could not remain limited to formal instruction and had to be reflected in everyday administration.
The bench further stated that the government has a serious obligation to respect, protect and implement the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The observations place the salary dispute within a wider question of how public authorities treat employees whose service continues while their employment status and payments remain caught in administrative or legal proceedings.
The order also provides that Sakkubai will be entitled to interest at 6% a year if the postal department does not release the salary and arrears within the two-week deadline. The matter has been adjourned to November 16.
