The State government on January 8 announced a bonus of ₹3,000 to all its employees in the ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories in view of the Pongal festival which fell between January 15 and 17. Though nearly a fortnight had passed by since the Government Order was issued, employees of the Madras High Court are yet to receive the bonus.
According to the court staff, those employed as sweepers, sanitary workers, office assistants and record clerks in the Principal Seat of the High Court as well as the Madurai Bench were eligible for the bonus.
The intent behind announcing the bonus during Pongal was to provide some means for the employees to celebrate the festival.
Therefore, the government had issued the GO a week before the festival season and despatched it to all establishments including the High Court.
It was up to the accounts section in the High Court to raise the bills in accordance with the GO and deposit the money into the bank accounts of the employees but it had not been done so far, the employees claimed.
“Pongal has come and gone but none of us have received the bonus so far. I don’t know what are they waiting for.
“At this rate, it appears the next Pongal season itself will come up,” lamented an office assistant in the High Court.
Another employee said, it was unfair to delay even such a small benefit to the lowest categories of staff.