Orissa High Court orders bank to pay higher salary to peon working as cashier for 23 years

The Orissa High Court has directed the United Puri-Nimapara Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. to grant higher salary benefits to a 54-year-old woman who worked as a cashier for over 23 years but was paid a peon’s wage.

According to the case W.P.(C) No.32917 of 2011, Justice MS Raman ruled that employees cannot be denied fair compensation if they perform higher responsibilities, quashing the bank’s 2011 order that regularised her as a peon despite her cashier duties.

Case Background

Tilottama Baliarsingh was appointed as a temporary peon (Grade VII) at the bank’s Mahila branch in Puri on July 17, 1999, under a rehabilitation scheme after her husband, a bank manager, died.

In 2001, she was assigned cashier (Grade VI) duties but continued receiving a peon’s salary. Despite her role, the bank regularised her as a peon in 2011, prompting her to petition the High Court for fair regularisation as a cashier.

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Court’s Directive

Justice Raman invalidated the bank’s 2011 order, instructing authorities to reconsider her regularisation as a cashier within three months.

The bench emphasised that Tilottama, a Class X pass out with a clean service record, had “discharged her duties sincerely, honestly, and efficiently” as a cashier since 2001. It dismissed the bank’s claim that she lacked qualifications, noting her more than 23 years of unblemished service in the role.

Key Observations

The court highlighted that Tilottama was entrusted with cashier responsibilities, including handling financial transactions, despite her peon designation.

Justice Raman stated, “An employee cannot be deprived of his/her right to get a higher salary/scale of pay if he/she discharges the duties of a higher office.” He added that she is entitled to retroactive financial benefits if regularised as a cashier.

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Broader Implications

The ruling reinforces legal protections against the exploitation of employees assigned higher roles without commensurate pay. It also underscores the obligation of employers to regularise workers based on their actual duties.

According to the order, the bank must now review Tilottama’s case and adjust her salary and position within the stipulated three-month timeframe.