 |
| Pension is a legal right |
The Calcutta High Court has directed the Hooghly Chinsurah municipality to quickly release pension funds to 148 retired Group D workers. The court stated that pension is a legal right earned through years of service, not a charitable handout, a TOI report stated.
The case arose after a petitioner, who retired in 2023, did not receive her pension and other benefits. She was among 148 employees who were hired in 1991-92 as coolies, domes, methors, trailormen, and jharuyalis. These positions were later combined into the role of 'conservancy worker'. All were considered permanent employees entitled to a monthly pension.
The municipality blamed technological issues for the delay. They said that the retired employees' data was missing from the e-pension portal, which was adopted in 2021. The Directorate of Local Bodies informed the court that the municipality had not provided complete details of all Group D employees.
Justice Gaurang Kanth strongly criticized the delay, stating, "Pension and other retiral benefits, once earned by an employee after rendering long and continuous service ought not to be delayed even by a single day. Delay in such cases causes undue hardship to the retired employees who depend on these dues for their sustenance."
The court has instructed the municipality to submit all necessary documents to the directorate within one week. The directorate must then redesignate the employees within two weeks.
Justice Kanth added that any unnecessary delay in pension disbursement, especially due to technological or administrative errors, "is impermissible and contrary to the principles of equity, justice, and good governance".
Source : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
0 Comments