HC imposes Rs 1 lakh fine on Punjab Govt for making widow wait 12 years for pension
12 years of waiting for pension: The Punjab and Haryana Government imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on Punjab Government for making the widow of the deceased employee wait for 12 years for family pension.
In the meantime, Punjab and Haryana High Court also ordered Punjab Government to deposit the amount in the periods of three months.
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While filing the petition, Surjeet Kaur told the High Court through advocate Ranjivan Singh that her husband was appointed in 1984 in the Irrigation Department. In 2009, the Punjab government decided to regularize her husband’s service and in 2010 he was appointed to the Bhakra Beas Management Board. Unfortunately, in the year 2011, the husband of the petitioner passed away after which Surjeet Kaur also vacated the government house in 2012.
Thereafter, the petitioner repeatedly wrote to the Board for family pension and retirement benefits, but the amount was not released. After this, the board said that due to the delay in returning the government house, Rs 3.25 lakh would have to be deposited by the petitioner.
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Quoting that, pension is not a reward, it is a constitutional right, High Court said that as there was delay of 12 years in releasing the pension and a fine has also been imposed on the petitioner for vacating the government house late therefore, Punjab Government has been imposed a fine of Rs one lakh. Along with this, Government has been ordered to pay the pension amount with 6 percent interest.
- PTC NEWS
