The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu State Express Transport Corporation to immediately set up a special cell on workmen who were disabled due to accident to consider their grievances on day-to-day basis rather than making them come to the court.
In a communication issued to the MD through the Registry, Justice K. Chandru said the Corporation must realise its social responsibilities as well as welfare of the workers in dealing with such cases. The Cell should comprise higher level officials so that relief, guaranteed to the workers under the 1995 Parliament Act, was given.
“This will avoid unnecessary hardship besides saving workmen’s money on costly litigation,” the Court said.
“It is a sorry state of affairs in the Corporation that over the years, hundreds of cases are filed before this court as well as the Principal bench by the conductors and drivers of the corporation, who unfortunately became disabled due to employment related injuries,” the judge said.
In most cases the employees were forced to come to the court either for referring their cases to the Regional Medical board or for getting alternative employment in terms of Sec47 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities, Protection of rights and full Participation)Act, 1995, the Court said.
“Sec47 of the act puts embargo from discharging such disabled employees and mandates to provide alternative employment. It is unnecessary for those employees to rush to this court,” the judge said.
