Madras High Court: A Division Bench of N. Kirubakaran and R. Hemalatha, JJ. addressed a petition seeking an order regarding distribution of cash benefits under various schemes of State and Centre to women account holders, farmers, old age and widow pensioners through the Business Correspondents of the Bank at the door steps of the beneficiaries during lockdown in light of COVID 19.
Present petition has been filed to issue writ of mandamus directing respondent 6 (State Level Bankers Committee – Tamil Nadu) to issue guidelines regarding the following:
- to distribute all cash benefits under various Schemes of the State and Union Government, to women account holders, farmers, old age and widow pensioners through the Business Correspondents of the Bank at the door steps of the beneficiaries without breaking the lockdown
- to ensure social distance in the Banks premises among the staff and customers visiting the bank
- to accommodate the staff stranded at various parts of the State to join duty at the nearby branches to the place of their living during the period of curfew,
- to ensure work from home for those staff with medical ailments, cancer survivors, pregnant women, lactating mothers, women with infants, disabled and those at the verge of their retirement,
- to provide transport arrangements ensuring Physical distancing and providing sufficient safeguards between the residence and the office and vice- versa for staff attending Banks,
during the period of lockdown imposed in the light of COVID -19 and pass such further or other order or orders as may be deemed fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.
Court issued notice with regard to the above and the matter to be posted after 2 weeks.[N. Rajagopal v. Union of India, 2020 SCC OnLine Mad 913, decided on 08-04-2020]
