34 years on, lawyer fights for justice

Vadodara: Thirty-four years might sound half-a-life to many. But that is the number of years a city-based lawyer has put in fighting for justice for himself.
Yogesh Pathak (62) has been contesting his termination from services at the National Dairy Development Board since 1982.
Pathak, who was appointed accounts clerk with the finance department at NDDB in 1979, was promoted as accounts executive after he cleared the intermediate exams of the company secretary course.However, he was terminated in 1982.
"The company sacked me on a ground of not seeking permission for pursuing the course. If they had to sack me, why did they promote me? This is grave injustice and I will continue to fight as I did not commit any crime," he told TOI.
After being demoted and terminated by the organization, Pathak challenged the decision at the industrial tribunal court and labour court. The industrial tribunal ordered NDDB to pay 75 per cent back wages in 2001. However, NDDB challenged the judgement and approached the high court where the ruling came in its favour.
"We approached the high court division bench that also ruled in favour of NDDB. We approached the Supreme Court (SC) in 2008. The SC asked either of the parties to appear in the court after the labour court case was disposed," said Pathak's son Parth.
The termination case was disposed by the labour court by ordering 25 per cent back wages in 2010. The father-son duo later approached the apex court that ordered the 25 per cent back wage in 2013.
"We have spent nearly Rs seven lakh in over three decades fighting the case. It was a question of our livelihood. All we want is the 75 per cent back wages. The remaining 25 per cent should be given to Prime Minister's fund for education," added Pathak, who recently filed a review petition in the apex court.