Case Note & Summary
The petitioner, Smt. Sushma D. Pinge, deployed as surplus Clinical Instructor at the Institute of Nursing Education, Bambolim, Goa, filed a writ petition before the High Court of Bombay at Goa. The respondents included the State of Goa, the Director of Health Services, the Joint Secretary (Health), and two Sister Tutors. The exact nature of the grievance dated 01.11.2010 was not detailed in the judgment. The court, after hearing counsel by consent, did not examine the merits of the grievance. Instead, it directed that the grievance be referred to the Ombudsman constituted under the Goa Government Employees (Redressal of Grievances Forum). The court further ordered that the Ombudsman decide the matter within four weeks from the date the parties appear in pursuance of a notice. No substantive legal issues were framed or argued; the petition was disposed of in a summary manner without any findings on the petitioner's claims. The judgment rested solely on the mechanism of the grievance redressal forum as the appropriate avenue for the petitioner.
Headnote
A) Service Law - Employee Grievance Redressal - Referral to Ombudsman - Goa Government Employees (Redressal of Grievances Forum) - The petitioner, an employee, filed a grievance dated 01.11.2010 - The High Court did not adjudicate the merits and instead directed the grievance to be referred to the Ombudsman constituted under the Goa Government Employees (Redressal of Grievances Forum) - Held that the Ombudsman shall decide the matter within four weeks from the date when the parties appear before him in pursuance of a notice (Paras 2-3).
Issue of Consideration
Whether the petitioner's grievance should be referred to the Ombudsman constituted under the Goa Government Employees (Redressal of Grievances Forum) and decided within a timeframe?
Final Decision
The writ petition is disposed of. The Petitioner's grievance dated 01.11.2010 is directed to be referred to the Ombudsman constituted under Goa Government Employees (Redressal of Grievances Forum). The Ombudsman may decide the matter within a period of four weeks from the date when the parties appear before him in pursuance of a notice.
Law Points
- Referral of employee grievance to Ombudsman
- time-bound disposal by Ombudsman
