Court drama defers retirement

Kolkata: Indian Airlines showcaused flight steward Joynath Victor De after he had refused to comply with Calcutta High Court's directives. He refused to shear his moustache off, prompting the company to showcause him in September 2000, asking why he should not be retired at 55.
De had turned 55 in May that year. De immediately moved court, challenging the directive. After hearing the case, Justice Barin Ghosh asked De to reply to the showcause notice. The judge also asked the airline to take a decision and submit it to the court on January 11, 2001.
The airlines gave the errant steward a hearing and then retired him from service on the very day it submitted its decision to the court.
Six months later, justice Aloke Chakraborty opened the sealed envelope and told De he could challenge the retirement directive within a fortnight.
The steward did just that, filing a fresh writ petition in July, 2001. On January 14, 2002, justice Chakraborty quashed the airline order.
The airline challenged the order before a division Bench. The case was finally disposed of on Friday with Justice Asim Kumar Banerjee and Justice Tapas Kumar Giri ruling in favour of Indian Airlines and settling the contention over De's retirement.
06/07/07 Times of India

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Categories: Indian Jul 2007