Provide Pension Within 2 Weeks To Eligible Construction Workers, Scrutinise the Applications of Others in 4 Weeks: Delhi HC Directs Delhi Construction Workers Welfare Board [Read Order]

While highlighting the hardship that must be faced by these workmen due to COVID19, the Single Bench of Justice Navin Chawla further directed the Delhi Government as well as the Delhi State Legal Services Authority necessary assistance and workforce to the said Board so that verification of applications can be done expeditiously.

The order has come in a PIL filed by Mr Jay Pal, seeking adequate compensation for construction workers who have lost work due to the COVID19 lockdown.

After being informed that there are around 91 workers whose applications for pension are still pending before district offices, the court directed the Board to expedite the process of scrutinizing the applications of these 91 workers and take a decision thereon, positively within a period of four weeks from today.

The court observed:

'In case these workers are found entitled to the pensionary benefits, the same be released to these workers within the same period. For the workers who are not found eligible, the respondent no.1 shall communicate the reasons for rejection of their applications to such workers and supply a copy thereof to the learned counsel for the petitioners, who may take it up with such workers for further course of action.'

During the course of the proceedings, the court was informed of the fact that certain applications got rejected due to discrepancy in documents provided by the applicant for verifying age.

In light of these submissions, the court ordered that the Board shall grant an opportunity to such workers to produce further documents/make representation before it in support of their claim. For this purpose, the Board shall call upon such workers to appear before the concerned officer to produce such documents/representation.

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