Pensioners Not Required To Visit Banks Or Offices To Get Pension During COVID, Karnataka Govt Tells HC

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Suraj Govindraj was also informed by the government counsel that the state will be providing pension to the senior citizens who are above 65-years of age, without them submitting life certificates and making certain procedural compliances.

Following which the court directed the state to file an affidavit specifying to that effect within a period of 15-days. The direction was given during the hearing of a petition filed by AKHILA KARANATAKA VYYOVRUDHARA OKKOOTA (AIKYATA).

In its compliance affidavit, the state government said that senior citizens eligible for pension in the state of Karnataka has been identified in accordance with Old Age pension and Sandya Surakasha Yojana rules and also as per the Navodaya mobile app which has been developed for the purpose of suo-motu identification for implementation of beneficiaries for pension under senior citizens scheme.

Further, it states that during the entire covid lockdown period and thereafter the state has not insisted upon submission of life certificate by any of the eligible senior citizens. The state has disbursed the entire pension amount liable to be paid to all senior citizens in the state up to the month of May 2021, and there are no dues payable to the senior citizens as on today.

The court also directed the state government to file compliance reports in terms of the directions given on April 21. The court had then said the context of sudden surge in Covid-19 cases, the State Government will have to make every possible endeavour to comply with the mandate of Section 20 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, in COVID Centres and COVID hospitals as well as in laboratories for conduct of Covid-19 test.

Further, the State Government was told to issue an advisory to all concerned authorities to keep in mind the mandate of Section 20 the said Act of 2007 while running the COVID Centres and COVID hospitals as well as laboratories. Also to implement sub-section (2) of Section 22 of the said Act of 2007, by prescribing a comprehensive action plan for providing protection to life and property of Senior Citizens. The court had directed the State Government to issue a circular to all District Magistrates within the meaning of the Karnataka Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2009 to perform their duty under Clause (vi) of sub-Rule (2) of Rule 20 of said Rules of ensuring timely assistance and relief to the senior citizens in the present pandemic.

The court also directed the state government to by next date make clear its stand on the basis of the decision of Supreme Court in the case of Dr Ashwani Kumar Vs Union of India & Ors directions on the issue of rights of the elderly.

The matter will next be heard on July 21.