Supreme Court’s big decision regarding gratuity of private school teachers, lakhs of teachers will get benefit.

New Delhi. The Supreme Court has given a big relief to the teachers of private schools. The top court has upheld a 2009 law giving right to gratuity to teachers of private schools. The decision to implement the provisions of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2009, with effect from April 3, 1997, has been upheld. Private schools will now have to pay gratuity to all teachers who have retired after 1997.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M Trivedi dismissed over 20 petitions filed by the Independent Schools Federation of India along with other private schools. Also ordered them to make payment to the employees/teachers along with interest under the provision of Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act within six weeks.

Benefit of retrospective gratuity law

The court said that if the teachers face any problem in getting the money, they can approach the appropriate forum. Teachers of unaided schools across the country will get the benefit of this decision. From April 3, 1997, teachers will get the benefit of gratuity law. According to the knowledgeable people related to the matter, all such teachers who may have left the job or have retired, will get the benefit of gratuity law from the earlier date.