HC seeks state’s view on setting up dist level pension cell

Ranchi: The Jharkhand high court on Monday sought the state government’s view on setting up a pension cell at the district level to settle retirement benefits of government employees without delays.
Advocate general Ajit Kumar said Justice Ananda Sen passed the direction while hearing a case (WPS /5380/2017 Braj Kishore Tiwari v/s rural development department) related to retirement benefits of a retired junior engineer. Kumar said the court was of the view that the cell could handle all matters related to retirement benefits of employees, adding that the step would help prevent delays caused due to lengthy procedures.

The HC had also called the secretary rural development to assist the court on the issue. Kumar said, “The HC opined that there should be no delay in payment of retirement benefits to government employees.” He added that on behalf of the state, he informed the court that the government too holds similar view on the issue. He also said, “I submitted before court that the state government would seriously consider any direction issued by court on the matter.”

Manoj Tandon, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, said the latter had retired from his services in 2007 but was not given any money as post retirement benefits for over 10 years. He was provided a meagre sum of Rs 1.82 lakh after he filed a writ petition. He added the court expressed surprise at the delays in payment of the benefits. He also said the court has also made state’s chief secretary and the secretary personnel department as party in the case.