Urgent Need for Mechanism to Resolve Pensioners’ and Family Pensioners’ Issues on Top Priority: BPS

BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ
(All India Federation of Pensioners’ Associations)
2/13-A- LGF Backside, Jangpura – ‘A’, New Delhi- 110014

No BPS/SG/pension/024/xx

Date 24.06.2024

To
Shri Narendra Modi
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister’s Office
South Block, Raisina Hill
New Delhi-110011

To
The Hon‘ble Chief Justice of India
Supreme Court of India
Tilak Marg
New Delhi- 110001

Subject: Urgent Need for Mechanism to Resolve Pensioners’ and Family Pensioners’ Issues on Top Priority

Honourable Sirs,

I am writing on behalf of Bharat Pensioners Samaj to bring to your urgent attention the dire need fora robust mechanism to resolve the grievances of pensioners and family pensioners expeditiously. The recent case of Shri Niwas, a retired employee of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited, serves as a tragic reminder of the delays and inefficiencies in our current system.

Background:

In a poignant turn of events, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted pensionary benefits to Shri Niwas 26 years after he first sought legal intervention. Sadly, Shri Niwas and his wife passed away before they could benefit from this long-awaited justice. Shri Niwas retired in 1998 and filed a petition seeking his due pensionary benefits. Despite the High Court’s directive, the benefits were not disbursed in time, leading to a prolonged struggle that ended without fruition.

High Court’s Directive:

Moved by the circumstances of Shri Niwas’s case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued directions to the Haryana Chief Secretary to compile a list of all similar pending cases and ensure their resolution.

This directive underscores the need for timely justice and efficient administrative action to honour the rights of retired employees.

Parliamentary Committee Observations:

The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in its Report 110, Para2.31, highlighted that approximately 310 cases relating to pension matters are pending in various Courts/Tribunals. It also noted the absence of guidelines or instructions for resolving such grievances through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods at the pre-litigation stage.

Urgent Request:

Considering the observations of both the High Court of Punjab and Haryana and the Parliamentary Committee, Bharat Pensioners Samaj the largest umbrella organization of pensioners registered with the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DOP & PW) earnestly requests the following:

1. Immediate Development of a Mechanism: Establish a dedicated mechanism for the expedited resolution of pensioners’ and family pensioners’ issues, prioritizing their financial and emotional well- being.

2. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Implement ADR methods such as conciliation and mediation at the pre-litigation stage to resolve grievances swifily and amicably.

3. Centralized Monitoring: Create a centralized system to monitor the status of pending pension-related cases across various courts and tribunals, ensuring timely follow-up and resolution.

The timely and efficient resolution of pension-related issues is crucial to uphold the dignity and rights of senior citizens. We trust that your esteemed offices will take immediate action to address this pressing matter.

Thank you for your attention and support.

Yours faithfully,

S.C. Maheshwari
Secretary-General
Bharat Pensioners Samaj

Copy to : To Dr. Jitender Singh MOS (PP),Secretary (Pension) GOI-M/O personal, PG &Pensions-DOP&PW.

Sd/-
S.C. Maheshwari

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