The lawyer of the RICBL’s former Executive Director requested the court to either treat the board’s decision to force his client to resign compulsorily as illegal or order the corporation to pay him gratuity and other retirement benefits.
He said the board’s decision violated due process. The corporation’s service rules 2016, he argued, clearly states that employees involved in such cases should be suspended while the investigation is being carried out.
But the RICBL board, the lawyer said, meted out penalty even before his client was proven guilty of the corruption charges against him.
He sought separate compensation for the damages his client is suffering, including mental anguish, because of the board’s unlawful act.
He added the board is also not clear about the charges against his client even today.
The lawyer stated that this could be the first such case where an employee has been denied gratuity and other retirement benefits.
He requested the court to verify the legality of the ACC’s letter to the RICBL and the board’s decision to punish his client without following due process.
He also informed the court that despite the irrelevance of appeal time, his client has appealed the board’s decision within ten days after the compulsory retirement order was issued.
He said his client was pressured to hand over his responsibilities despite explaining to the board members that the case is being taken to the court.
At the hearing, the former Executive Director said he had requested the board to allow him to resign voluntarily in the interest of the company that has over a thousand shareholders and more than 500,000 clients.
The former Executive Director added the board should verify past records and the welfare of employees before taking such actions.
The lawyer of the RICBL Board verbally argued the board’s decision was made in the interest of the company and not the board members.
He said the case should be dismissed since the former Executive Director has failed to appeal on time. He also informed the court that the board had received a separate report from the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The RICBL Board lawyer will submit a detailed written rebuttal at the next hearing, which is scheduled to take place on the 2nd of next month.
