Nilgiris forest dept denied benefits citing procedural problems
K. Devan joined government service as a clerk in 1967 in the Chinchona department, Udhagamandalam. He resigned his job due to illness in December 1985. However, his pension and other attendant benefits were not paid to him, despite several
Chennai: A 69-year-old senior citizen, running from pillar to post to get his pension and other attendant employment benefits for nearly 29 years, has finally won the battle. After he filed a contempt petition against the Nilgiris district forest officer, the government has now passed an order and the officer agreed to pay the benefits arising out of the G.O.
K. Devan joined government service as a clerk in 1967 in the Chinchona department, Udhagamandalam. He resigned his job due to illness in December 1985. However, his pension and other attendant benefits were not paid to him, despite several representations. Therefore, he approached the Madras high court in 2011 and a single judge allowed his petition.
Against this order, the forest department filed an appeal contending that though Devan had resigned his job in 1985, he had sent a letter requesting service benefits only in 2009; therefore, he was not entitled for any relief.
Moreover, the Chinchona department was merged with the forest department and, therefore, there was difficulty in tracing the records and the representation could not be considered, the department added. A division bench upheld the single judge’s order and when this was not complied with, Devan filed a contempt application.
A division bench comprising justices N. Paul Vasanthakumar and K. Ravichandrabaabu, which heard the contempt application, directed the district forest officer to appear. Thereafter, the government issued a G.O., subject to the outcome of an SLP filed against the appeal.
The bench noted, “C. Badrasamy, district forest officer, Nilgiris, who is present before this court, submits that the benefits arising out of the G.O. will be paid to the petitioner within two weeks. In view of his submission, by recording the same, this contempt petition is closed,” the bench added.
Reacting to the judgment, Devan told this correspondent over phone that he was very happy because he had won the case against government after a 29-year-long battle. “I have no other sources of income. I even borrowed money on interest to pay rent in the fond hope that I will get pensionary benefits,” he added.
( Source : dc )
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