PMPML Employees Clear Pension Hurdle
– High Court verdict ends 29-year battle; administration directed to extend pension benefits within six months
PIMPRI : In a major relief to thousands of employees and retired personnel of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), the way has been cleared for extending retirement pension benefits to employees in accordance with State Government rules.
Standing Committee Chairman of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and PMPML Director Abhishek Barne has directed the PMPML administration to implement the High Court’s landmark order and ensure that all eligible employees receive their pension-related benefits within six months.
Barne has also written an official letter to the PMPML Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), directing the administration to initiate the necessary action without delay and ensure that the court’s order is implemented in its true spirit.
29-Year Legal Battle Ends in Landmark Victory
PMPML employees have been fighting for pension benefits for nearly 29 years. While employees of the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and the Education Board receive retirement pension benefits, PMPML employees had remained deprived of similar benefits.
The prolonged legal battle first witnessed a major breakthrough on May 2, 2013, when the Industrial Court, Pune, ruled in favour of the employees and ordered that they be provided pension benefits.
The PMPML administration subsequently challenged the decision before the High Court. However, the High Court rejected the administration’s plea and upheld the employees’ claim. The court also directed that the pension benefits be extended within a stipulated period of six months.
Following the High Court’s decision, Barne took up the matter with the PMPML administration and called for immediate implementation of the order. His intervention has raised hopes among retired employees that the long-pending pension issue will finally be resolved.
Retired Employees Felicitate Abhishek Barne
After learning about the High Court verdict and Barne’s directions to the PMPML administration, a delegation of retired employees met him at the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. The retired employees presented him with a bouquet and felicitated him in an emotional atmosphere, expressing their gratitude for his support and follow-up in ensuring implementation of the court order.
“PMPML employees are the backbone of public transportation in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Just like employees of the municipal corporations, they were entitled to retirement pension benefits under State Government rules. The victory achieved after a prolonged 29-year struggle is truly historic. In accordance with the High Court’s order, I have issued clear instructions to the PMPML administration through a letter to ensure that employees receive their pension benefits within six months. Our government and administration will always stand firmly with the employees.”
— Abhishek Barne, Chairman, Standing Committee, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
