Supreme Court poser to Centre, Canara Bank over plea of deaf employees

Supreme Court poser to Centre, Canara Bank over plea of deaf employees

The apex court grants two weeks to respond on a petition of specially-abled employees to allow them to work from home during Covid-19

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah on 4 January 2021 permitted two weeks to the Centre and Canara Bank on a petition seeking the government's permission to allow Deaf Employees of the bank to work from home.

The association, Deaf Employees Welfare Association, comprises of the vulnerable group of employees, or persons with disabilities. Through its plea, the association sought directions to the Centre and Canara Bank to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry and other authorities by exempting them from roster duty and permitting them to work from home.

"The guidelines are not being followed by the Canara Bank and thereby causing harassment to the vulnerable employees, causing endangerment of their health and life and infringement of their fundamental Right to Life", the petitioner association submitted.

The court on the previous occasion had sought the Government's response on the plea. The Court further listed the matter to be heard next after two weeks.