Workers’ union members at Bharathiar University in Coimbatore have announced a protest on September 7 over alleged unauthorised ESI-related salary deductions. Despite assurances that such deductions would not continue, the union alleged ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 was deducted last month, followed by another ₹500 this month.
Coimbatore: Workers at Bharathiar University in Coimbatore have decided to stage a protest on September 7, alleging that the university administration has been making unauthorised deductions from their salaries towards ESI-related charges.
An emergency general body meeting of the workers’ union was held at Bharathiar University in the Marudamalai area, where members discussed the deductions and decided to intensify their protest against the administration.
According to the union, the university administration deducted amounts ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 from workers’ salary accounts last month without prior notice. When the issue was raised with the Registrar, the workers were reportedly informed that the deductions were towards amounts paid to the ESI authorities.
The union contended that such deductions were not permissible under the applicable rules and raised the matter during a grievance redressal meeting held on August 11, 2026. At the meeting, the Registrar reportedly assured the workers that steps would be taken to refund the amounts deducted after obtaining approval from the governing body. The administration also allegedly assured them that such penalty amounts would not be deducted in the coming months and that only the permissible ESI contribution of 0.75 per cent would be deducted.
However, when salaries were credited on September 2, another ₹500 was allegedly deducted from the workers towards an ESI-related penalty. The union said the latest deduction amounted to a violation of the assurance given during the grievance meeting.
The union further said it contacted officials of the Coimbatore District ESI office, including the Deputy Director and Joint Directors, regarding the deductions. According to the union, the officials told Mohanraj, who is associated with the university’s finance office, that making such deductions was not legally permissible and would not be accepted. They reportedly warned that if the practice continued, an inspection would be conducted after obtaining the necessary approval and the amount would be recovered and returned to the workers, besides the possibility of action for the violation.
Despite this, Mohanraj allegedly maintained that ₹500 would be deducted from the workers and proceeded with the deduction, with the union claiming that the Registrar also gave approval for it.
Condemning the alleged deductions and what it described as the administration’s failure to honour its earlier assurance, the workers’ union has resolved to hold a protest demonstration on September 7. The union said it would also launch further protests if the issue was not resolved and the deducted amounts were not returned.
Union general secretary Ramesh Kumar, president Chinthamani and Selvaraj were among those present at the emergency general body meeting.
An emergency general body meeting of the workers’ union was held at Bharathiar University in the Marudamalai area, where members discussed the deductions and decided to intensify their protest against the administration.
According to the union, the university administration deducted amounts ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 from workers’ salary accounts last month without prior notice. When the issue was raised with the Registrar, the workers were reportedly informed that the deductions were towards amounts paid to the ESI authorities.
The union contended that such deductions were not permissible under the applicable rules and raised the matter during a grievance redressal meeting held on August 11, 2026. At the meeting, the Registrar reportedly assured the workers that steps would be taken to refund the amounts deducted after obtaining approval from the governing body. The administration also allegedly assured them that such penalty amounts would not be deducted in the coming months and that only the permissible ESI contribution of 0.75 per cent would be deducted.
However, when salaries were credited on September 2, another ₹500 was allegedly deducted from the workers towards an ESI-related penalty. The union said the latest deduction amounted to a violation of the assurance given during the grievance meeting.
The union further said it contacted officials of the Coimbatore District ESI office, including the Deputy Director and Joint Directors, regarding the deductions. According to the union, the officials told Mohanraj, who is associated with the university’s finance office, that making such deductions was not legally permissible and would not be accepted. They reportedly warned that if the practice continued, an inspection would be conducted after obtaining the necessary approval and the amount would be recovered and returned to the workers, besides the possibility of action for the violation.
Despite this, Mohanraj allegedly maintained that ₹500 would be deducted from the workers and proceeded with the deduction, with the union claiming that the Registrar also gave approval for it.
Condemning the alleged deductions and what it described as the administration’s failure to honour its earlier assurance, the workers’ union has resolved to hold a protest demonstration on September 7. The union said it would also launch further protests if the issue was not resolved and the deducted amounts were not returned.
Union general secretary Ramesh Kumar, president Chinthamani and Selvaraj were among those present at the emergency general body meeting.