'Officials holding back pension will face penal action in Goa'

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today warned senior officials of various departments against holding back pension to staff and said those purposely delaying the dues will face penal action.
He also announced that heads of departments will be soon empowered to give provisional pension.
Parrikar told the state assembly that certain senior officials of various departments and of institutions are purposefully creating bottlenecks to delay the superannuation benefits to staff.
"I will not tolerate the purposeful delay in giving pension to the retired staff. I also warned principals of grant-in-aid schools that they should not hold back pension. I am issuing a public warning," the Chief Minister said.

He also said the state government in September will issue an order empowering heads of departments to provide provisional pension to their staff.
"Officers holding back the pensions would have to face penal action," Parrikar said.
Goa has 42,442 pensioners at present and the number is expected to rise in coming year thus creating the biggest financial burden.