HC notice to Delhi government on non-payment of old age pension

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the city government on a plea alleging that over 1.5 lakh elderly people have not been paid old-age pension of Rs.1,000 per month by the municipal corporations.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva sought response from the Delhi government by October 7.

NGO Social Jurist moved an application seeking to implead the Delhi government as party in the matter saying civic bodies have discontinued old-age pension scheme for last one year due to financial crunch.

Advocate Ashok Agarwal, appearing for the NGO, told the court that in the circumstance, the only option was that Delhi government should take upon the liability to pay the pension to these 1.5 lakh people of the city.

North Delhi Municipal Corporation has said due to "serious financial crunch" and budget deficit, it had not been able to disburse old-age pensions since July last year.

East Delhi Municipal Corporation has told the court that subject to availability of funds, it has decided to continue its pension scheme for people, including disabled, widows and aged people.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation has also informed the court that over 73,000 people were eligible to receive the benefit under its Old Age Pension scheme, but it had paid the amount to only 63,914 till September 30 last year, and the rest would be paid soon.

The plea of the NGO said denial of pension to the old and the disabled is a violation of fundamental rights.

The PIL said municipal corporations abruptly stopped payment of pension without specifying a reason which is "arbitrary and illegal".