In a major victory for workers and re-employed pensioner widows of Deendayal Port Authority, the Hon’ble Industrial Tribunal, Rajkot, has delivered a landmark judgment directing the Port management to grant Dearness Relief (DR) benefits with retrospective effect from July 18, 1997.
The judgment was pronounced on May 22, 2026, by Hon’ble Industrial Tribunal Judge Shri M.A. Malaviya in Case No. ITC 125/2025 (3/2006), contested by the Transport and Dock Workers Union against Deendayal Port Authority (formerly Kandla Port Trust).
The dispute pertained to widows of deceased daily-rated workers who were receiving Dearness Relief as part of family pension after the demise of their husbands. However, after being appointed on compassionate grounds on regular employment, the Dearness Relief was discontinued, allegedly in violation of Government of India guidelines.
The Union argued that the Government of India’s Office Memorandum No. 45/73/97-P&PW(G) dated July 2, 1999 had clearly directed continuation of Dearness Relief to such re-employed family pensioners with retrospective effect from July 18, 1997. Although the Ministry of Shipping had partly implemented the benefit with effect from January 1, 2022 through the wage settlement dated September 27, 2024, the Union continued its legal struggle seeking full retrospective justice.
The matter was initially raised in the Board of Trustees meeting of the then Kandla Port Trust in 2006 by late Labour Trustee Shri M.L. Bellani. As the issue remained unresolved, the Union pursued the matter under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, first before the Assistant Labour Commissioner and subsequently before the Central Government Industrial Tribunal, before finally being adjudicated by the Industrial Tribunal, Rajkot.
During the proceedings, Advocate Shri Nirdosh Rathod presented detailed arguments on behalf of the workers, while Shri Lalit Varyani played a key role in pursuing the matter after the demise of Shri M.L. Bellani.
While delivering the judgment, the Tribunal held that the Office Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is fully applicable to the employees and family pensioners of the Port Authority. The Court ruled that all eligible employed pensioners and employed family pensioners of DPA are entitled to Dearness Relief from July 18, 1997.
The Tribunal further directed the management of Deendayal Port Authority to calculate and disburse the pending amounts to all concerned employees within 90 days from publication of the award. In case of non-payment within the stipulated period, the beneficiaries will be entitled to receive the dues along with simple interest at 7.5 percent until realization.
Reacting to the verdict, Union President Shri L. Satyanarayan described the judgment as a historic victory for justice and workers’ rights. He stated that the case, originally initiated under the guidance of late Shri M.L. Bellani, finally reached a successful conclusion due to the persistent efforts of Union Senior Secretary Shri Lalit Varyani and the legal advocacy of Shri Nirdosh Rathod.
A wave of happiness has reportedly spread among the workers and pensioner widows of Deendayal Port Authority following the judgment. The Union expressed hope that the Port management would accept the Tribunal’s ruling in totality and implement the order promptly to provide long-awaited relief to the affected families.
