AN ULTIMATE SUCCESS STORY OF A MISERABLE RETIRED OFFICER OF UNION BANK OF INDIA ( Collected From facebook)
One Shri Mahesh R. Thakore was working as an Accountant at Junagadh Branch (Rajkot Region) in the past; where he was charge sheeted and after a departmental inquiry a punishment of compulsory retirement was inflicted upon him in March, 1986. Shri Thakore had challenged the Bank’s decision in Gujarat High Court, but defeated. Without becoming disheartened, he had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court and had won the battle. The Apex Court, while deciding his Civil Appeal No.2029 of 1990 (SLP No.12362 of 1988) had given a verdict in April, 1990 to set a side the punishment of ‘compulsory retirement’ and to treat him as a voluntarily retired officer. The Supreme Court had further directed the Bank to pay him all the terminal benefits payable to voluntarily retired officers. There was no pension scheme in the Banks at that time. Hence Shri Thakore was paid Provident Fund (including Bank’s contribution) and Gratuity.
3. The pension scheme was introduced in banking industry with effect from November, 1993 and according to a subsequent ruling of the Supreme Court in different cases during the year 2000, all the voluntarily retired officers were also to be extended the benefit of pension. But Shri Thakore’s application for pension was rejected by the Bank.
4. By that time, the poor Officer was very aged and totally exhausted – financially, physically and mentally. His personal circumstances were also quite adverse His family consists of a wife, an un-married daughter and a mentally challenged son. In the meantime, afore said two retirees’ organizations in Gujarat were formed during the year 2001. Since Shri Thakoe was then settled in Ahmedabad, he joined our Association operating in that area. He started receiving advice, moral and financial support from the Office Bearers and Members of the Association. He was made a member of ‘Union Bank of India Retired Employees’ Medical Assistance Scheme’, for which subscription to the Bank was paid by the Office Bearers and Activists of the Association. One more option for pension was to be given during the year 2010. Shri Thakore applied again, but in vain. Repeated polite representations to the management – up to the level of the Chairman & Managing Director did not yield any favourable outcome.
5. Shri Thakore was, therefore, advised to seek legal remedy again. But where were the money to fight legal battle afresh? An Advocate tried to help him by filing a writ petition in Gujarat High Court for getting pension without charging any fee. But the Advocate could not appear in the court regularly nor could he arrange to pay the nominal court fee. The petition was, therefore, dismissed without hearing.
6. But then another gentleman Advocate – Shri Rajesh P. Mankad came to his rescue. He appeared in the High Court on behalf of Shri Thakore without taking a single paisa as his professional fees. Owing to very strenuous efforts put in by our learned advocate, the Hon’ble High Court agreed to restore the petition which was earlier dismissed for non payment of court fees and absence of the earlier Advocate. Shri Mankad then argued very forcefully for urgent hearing of the matter considering very old age of the petitioner and genuineness of his problem. Consequently not only the court heard the matter urgently, but, within a couple of months, delivered a historic judgment to pay pension to Shri Thakore with effect from November, 1993. The court’s directed the Bank to disburse the entire arrears of 20 years’ pension within five months from the date of the judgment and pay him the pension regularly thereafter. A copy of the judgment is attached.
7. But then there was an apprehension that the Bank would file an appeal in the Division Bench of Gujarat High Court and afterwards in the Supreme Court also thereby frustrating and delaying the cause of justice awarded by the Hon’ble single Judge. If that would have happened, the poor Officer would not have got pension during his life time, as he is already 77 years’ old at present. We, therefore, approached Shri N. Shankar, Workmen Director of our Bank to come to help him. Knowing the facts that this is a very deserving case, he requested the Central Office management to implement the judgment of the single judge of the High Court and not to humiliate the poor officer further by filing appeals.
The management was kind enough to accede to the request of Shri Shankar to implement the present judgment. Regional Office, Rajkot received instruction from the Central Office to prepare pension work sheet, obtain pension application forms from Shri Thakore and forward the same to the Terminal Benefits Division immediately. We pursued the matter with Junagadh Branch and the Regional Office, Rajkot for early compliance of the instruction, which they received from the Terminal Benefits Division. Shri Shankar again pursued the matter with the Central Office. Consequently Shri Thakoe, who had no money in his pocket for payment of bus fare to attend hearing of his case in the high court till middle of last month, has got arrears of 20 years’ pension in the second fortnight of the last month. The Bank has also commenced paying him regular monthly pension from June,’13. His wife will be entitled to family pension and in her absence their mentally retarded son will get it life time.
Retired banker MU Kini's battle against allegations of corruption has finally come to an end. In April, Mumbai CBI Special Court Judge Vijay R Sikchi exonerated the former Executive Director of Union Bank Of India of all charges leveled against him. But he remains unsure whether his ordeal has actually ended."I was unsure if the vendetta had ceased. Hence, I waited four months to see if the CBI appeals to a higher court to pursue charges," says 78 year-old Kini, who underwent three major surgeries for urological problems while the case was being tried in court.
Kini's ordeal began in 1986 when he was slapped with internal memos by then Union Bank Of India Chairman, JS Bhatnagar, for making improper advances worth crores of rupees bypassing official norms. "I replied to the memos and the matter seemed to have ended there. But Bhatnagar retired in December 1988, paving the way for me to take over as Chairman. That's when he and his coterie decided to strike, motivated by jealousy. As my file was pending clearance for appointment as Chairman, the CBI raided my house in Cuffe Parade and private residence in Chembur," Kini recalls. Both raids drew a blank.
"Due to this incident, I lost my career, credibility and reputation. Hopefully, things will change now. I am happy that my name has finally been cleared. Now, I can attend events with my head held high," he says.
Alongwith six other co-accused, Kini was acquitted of all the offences under Section 420, Section 120-B as well as charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Section 5(2) and Section 5(1)(D).
"It isn't unusual for people to lodge anonymous complaints against top bank executives due to vested interests. But it's surprising that the CBI fell into the trap and acted as an instrument to destroy my career," he adds.
The raid ensured that Kini was out of the reckoning for the bank Chairman's post. He was reduced to juggling his work schedule to attend the Special CBI Court in Mumbai every month for 24 years, until his retirement.
"Initially, I could manage it since I wanted to prove my innocence. But in my 60s and 70s, it became too much. I was made to sit on benches for long hours, beside hardcore criminals," he states. He hasn't received any compensation either.
Now, the man whom even Dhirubhai Ambani used to stand up in respect of, plans to dispose of his private flat in Mumbai and settle down in Chennai. "I will engage myself with charitable institutions. For me, this is the end," concludes Kini.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/89014/top-bank-executive-cleared-corruption.html
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