State health benefits to pensioners not charity:consumer forum

Pointing out to the local civic body that such services by the state are "valuable rights" "earned" by the pensioners due to their services, said the North Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal forum and directed the MCD to pay Rs 8,000, including compensation, to its former employee.

"In our opinion the facilities of treatment at State expenses extended to a pensioner is not a charity. It is a valuable right of an employee earned by virtue of long service rendered by him to his department," it said.

The forum presided by Babu Lal also rejected the MCD's contention that its former employee had not obtained the sanction from the competent authority for availing the medical test facilities and said a pensioner cannot be expected to "run from pillar to post" to seek sanction.

"In our opinion a pensioner cannot be expected to make rounds or run from pillar to post for sanctions and leave his woes and suffering occasioned by a disease afflicting him. If at all opposite party (MCD) has certain reservation, it should have enquired from the polyclinic specialist, who had referred him to the hospital," the bench said.

The consumer forum's order came on the plea of North Delhi resident and former MCD employee, Ram Rattan Aggarwal, who had alleged that despite being entitled to the reimbursement of his medical expenses under the Delhi Government Employees Health Scheme (DGEHS), the amount paid by him for tests was not reimbursed. (MORE)