BMC can’t sack widow for marrying again, says court

The civic body has been ordered by the Bombay High Court to reinstate a woman employee who had been given a job after her husband passed away but was sacked after she got married again, reports Kanchan Chaudhari.

The civic body has been ordered by the Bombay High Court to reinstate a woman employee who had been given a job after her husband passed away but was sacked after she got married again. The judgement was passed on Monday, coinciding with Women’s Day.

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) gave Vanita Kadam (47) a job in 1991 after her husband Nathuram’s death, on compassionate grounds. Nathuram had been a conservancy worker.

In October 2001, her service was terminated after her mother-in-law filed complaints with the BMC that Vanita had neglected Nathuram’s family after she married again.

BMC lawyer Anil Sakhare argued that the BMC clause that permits such termination was to ensure that a deceased staffer’s family benefits from the appointment.

Sakhare said Vanita’s termination was also prompted by the complaints of negligence.

While passing the judgement, the court said it had taken into account that Vanita had been jobless for nine years and that her second marriage had failed.The civic body has been ordered by the Bombay High Court to reinstate a woman employee who had been given a job after her husband passed away but was sacked after she got married again. The judgement was passed on Monday, coinciding with Women’s Day.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) gave Vanita Kadam (47) a job in 1991 after her husband Nathuram’s death, on compassionate grounds. Nathuram had been a conservancy worker.

In October 2001, her service was terminated after her mother-in-law filed complaints with the BMC that Vanita had neglected Nathuram’s family after she married again.

BMC lawyer Anil Sakhare argued that the BMC clause that permits such termination was to ensure that a deceased staffer’s family benefits from the appointment.

Sakhare said Vanita’s termination was also prompted by the complaints of negligence.

While passing the judgement, the court said it had taken into account that Vanita had been jobless for nine years and that her second marriage had failed.