Mumbai: Former IIT-B gardener kills self

Students and family gather on campus for a memorial service Raman Garase

Students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, gathered for a memorial service at the campus on Friday to honour the memory of 70-year-old retired gardener, Raman Garase, who tragically took his life on May 1. Garase dedicated 39 years of service to IITB before retiring in 2019. Among those present at the meeting were students and relatives of Garase.

Allegations were made by the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), a students' collective at IIT-B, suggesting that Garase's suicide stemmed from the exhaustion of a protracted legal battle with the institute regarding post-retirement gratuity relief for contract workers.

According to the APPSC, Garase had been pursuing his gratuity and retirement benefits since his retirement two years ago. The APPSC's statement, issued on Thursday, highlighted that Garase and three others were compelled to seek retirement benefits through a labour court, where they emerged victorious. The court mandated the payment of the gratuity amount along with a 10 per cent interest to compensate for the delayed payment. Sources indicate that Garase's gratuity amounts to Rs 4,28,000.

IIT Bombay was reportedly considering an appeal against the court's decision in the Bombay High Court as the administration contended that the workers were employed temporarily and thus ineligible for post-retirement funds. Meanwhile, IIT-B has not issued any official statement regarding the allegations made by the student group.