THOOTHUKUDI: The 28-year-long legal struggle of 56 VOC port canteen staff ended on Tuesday as the port issued letters regularising their service as per a 2025 high court order.
Among the 56 employees, only six are currently working in the canteen. Fifteen people died during the course of the legal process and the remaining have superannuated.
According to sources, while major ports regularised jobs of canteen staff in 1988, the VOC port delayed it. This prompted P Sampath, secretary of Thoothukudi Port Trust Democratic Staff Union, affiliated to CITU, to approach the court. The legal battle dragged on for 28 years, including 10 years in the Supreme Court and repeated appeals. Finally, the union secured a favourable order.
On November 26, 2025, a two-judge bench of Madras High Court upheld the directions of a single judge order dated February 26, 2024 to absorb the departmental canteen workers. Further, the court stated that all 56 staff are entitled for salary of 28-years, arrears and pension. Based on the orders, the VOC port on July 6, 2026 issued orders regularising the services of the 56 staff.
According to CITU district secretary R Russel, only six staff - M Agastheeswaran (57), V Yogeswaran (59), V Murugan (59), P Paramasivan (55), M Murugan (59) and K Muthusamy (58), are still working in the canteen, while 50 others had superannuated. Five people died while they still were in the job, and 10 died after retirement.
Speaking to the TNIE, Russel said”We dedicate the victory to advocate Ajay Koshe for his meticulous arguments to achieve victory”. The union also thanked VOC port chairman Sushant Kumar Purohit, and deputy chairman Rajesh Soundrarajan for bringing light into the lives of the workers.
Speaking to the TNIE, M Agastheewsaran (57), an accountant with three years of service left, rejoiced over the regularisation of the job. “I joined as a counter clerk in 1990. I am happy as my future has scope. It is a historic victory given its three-decade long legal battle. We thank the port management, and CITU”, he said.
Esther Amalia, widow of R Ganesan, who worked as a bearer in the canteen for 40 years, said “I received the appointment order of my husband and am eligible for family pension and pending arrears. I have two daughters and they have got a new lease of life. We are unimaginably happy.”
Kanagaraj, CPM State secretariat member, lauded Russel’s role in the case. “It is the unity of the people who won the case. I appreciate all those who worked to secure the job regularisation order,” he said.