Punjab & Haryana HC Orders State To Withhold Salary Of Home Secretary Until Payment Of Entire Pensionary Benefits To Widow Of A Class IV Employee

It is ordered that the salary of the Home Secretary, Punjab, shall remain stayed till the time the entire amount of the pensionary benefits is released to the petitioner.

Considering the fact that the petitioner (a widow) of a Class IV employee who is dependent upon the pensionary benefits has been forced to come to the Court, repeatedly, the court was forced to pass such a 'drastic order'.

The husband of the petitioner was a Class IV employee. The petitioner is dependent upon the pensionary benefits. She has been forced to come to the Court, repeatedly. Consequently, this Court is forced to pass a drastic order.

Significantly, before signing the order, it was brought to the notice of the bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal that the claim of the petitioner has been satisfied, and the payment has been transferred into her bank account. Upon which, the court ordered the State to disburse the salary of the Home Secretary.

Before signing the order, it has been brought to the notice of the Court that the claim of the petitioner stands satisfied and the payment has been transferred into her account. In view thereof, the present petition is disposed of. The State shall be at liberty to disburse the salary of its Home Secretary.

In the instant case, the petitioner was complaining of wilful disobedience of the order according to which her claim was required to be decided within one month.

Counsel representing the State of Punjab admitted that she is entitled to the pensionary benefits and also claimed that the same has been sanctioned but learned counsel representing the petitioner opposed the same by stating that not even a single penny has been released.

Following this, the court was forced to pass such a drastic order of staying the salary of the Home Secretary, Punjab, till the entire amount of the pensionary benefits are released to the petitioner but before signing the order, it was brought to the notice of the Court that the claim of the petitioner stands satisfied, and the payment has been transferred into her account.

Therefore, the court disposed of the present petition and ordered the State to be at liberty to disburse the salary of its Home Secretary.

Case Title: Seema Rani Versus Anurag Verma and others

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (PH) 109

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