Five-Decade Pension Battle Ends in Justice for Haryana Widow
In a landmark judgment that highlights systemic failures in India's administrative machinery, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has come to the rescue of an 80-year-old illiterate widow who has been fighting for her deceased husband's pension and retirement benefits for over half a century.
Laxmi Devi's struggle began in 1974 when her husband Maha Singh, who worked as a Sub-Station Officer with the Haryana State Electricity Board, died while in service. Despite receiving a minimal ex gratia payment of Rs 6,026 shortly after his death, the crucial family pension, gratuity, and other retirement benefits were never released to her.
Court Condemns 'Administrative Apathy'
Justice Harpreet Singh Brar, while hearing the writ petition on November 14, delivered a strongly worded order describing the case as "a saga of administrative apathy and a persistent struggle for rightful dues." The judge noted that the case revealed "a disheartening and distressing picture of administrative apathy compounded by the petitioner's advanced age, deteriorating health, and lack of effective legal assistance."
The court observed that Laxmi Devi, now paralyzed and living in destitution, had been compelled to approach various authorities for nearly five decades before finally seeking judicial intervention. Her legal battle included an earlier court case filed in 2005, which also failed to provide her relief.
Contradictory Claims Exposed
In a significant finding, the court noted that departmental documents clearly showed Maha Singh had been allotted a General Provident Fund (GPF) account number and regular deductions were made from his salary. This directly contradicted the state's recent claim that he was only covered under the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) scheme and therefore not entitled to regular pension benefits.
Justice Brar pointedly questioned the electricity department's stance, observing: "Curiously, all departmental communications annexed with the present writ petition indicate that the petitioner is entitled to the relief claimed. Moreover, it is incomprehensible how the deceased could have been allotted a GPF Account Number if he was not covered under the Board's GPF/Pension Scheme."
Constitutional Rights Upheld
The judgment invoked constitutional principles to emphasize that providing relief to vulnerable citizens like Laxmi Devi is not merely an act of judicial discretion but a constitutional obligation. The court referenced the Preamble and Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution while stating that "whenever courts fail to protect the weakest, the constitutional promise stands diminished."
The court directed the Principal Secretary or administrative head of Haryana's electricity department to personally verify Laxmi Devi's claims within two months and ensure that all lawful benefits are released to her immediately. The petition has been disposed of with the hope that the octogenarian widow will finally receive her long-denied dues after 51 years of relentless struggle.
