HC raps govt for delaying pension to widow of driver in Army

The Delhi High Court today rapped the Centre for its delay in granting family pension to the wife of a civilian driver in the Army, saying where required, decisions are taken very fast, but not in the instant case.
A vacation bench of Justice Mukta Gupta made the observation while granting the Ministry of Defence six more weeks as a "last and final opportunity" to grant pension to the woman, subject to payment of Rs 20,000 as cost to her.
While imposing the cost, the court also said the government "cannot be permitted to delay the matter as per their whims and fancies and are required to act swiftly".

The court passed the order on government's plea seeking more time to comply with its order of July 17 last year.
In its plea, filed through advocate Archana Gaur, the government sought extension of the eight weeks earlier granted to it on April 6, saying the file has to move through various departments which takes time.
It also said that approval for grant of pension is in the pipeline.

The court had in its April 6 order warned the government that if its direction of July 17 was not complied with, a cost of Rs 50,000 would have to be paid to the lady.

The government's application has been filed in the main contempt plea moved by the widow, Shakuntala Devi, whose husband - Ram Meher - had been discharged from service after working as a civilian driver for the Army for 15 years, seven months and 13 days.
The contempt plea was moved in January as the government had not complied with the high court's July 17, 2014 direction.
The high court had on July 17 last year directed the government to grant her pension as was order by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in 2006.
The direction had come on the government's plea against the CAT decision.

The government was of the view that since no pension was being given to Ram Meher after his discharge from service, his family cannot be given the benefit after his death.