India, April 17 -- The Orissa High Court on Tuesday directed a cooperative bank to grant higher salary to a 54-year-old woman who was hired as a peon in 2001 but had been working as a cashier.

Disposing a 14-year-old case filed by the woman employee of United Puri-Nimapara Central Cooperative Bank, justice MS Raman on Tuesday ruled that she could not be denied the cashier's salary when she had been discharging her duty as cashier "sincerely, honestly and efficiently" and was considered fit by the branch manager to be considered for regularisation in the post of cashier.

"After exploiting the service of the employee in higher post with pay attached to the lower grade for more than two decades, it would be harsh to regularise her in the p...