Punjab Newsline, Himachal
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken a strict stance on the issue of halted pensions of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) retirees. During the hearing held on Friday, Justice Sandeep Sharma issued a notice to the state government and directed it to file a detailed reply by December 19.
The matter pertains to the petition Ashok Purohit & Others vs. State. The petitioners, through their advocate, informed the court that despite submitting all required documents and fulfilling eligibility conditions, their pension for the month of October has not been released. They argued that withholding pension without justification is not only against the rules but also severely affects the livelihood of elderly retired employees.
Expressing displeasure over the non-payment of pension, the court stated that pensioners are senior citizens and timely pension is their legal right. The court expressed confidence that the state government would release the withheld pension for October before the next hearing. The court also directed that such delays should not occur in the future.
This development brings hope for hundreds of HRTC pensioners who have been distressed due to the delay in receiving their pensions over the past weeks. With the court’s firm instructions, pressure has increased on the state government to ensure timely disbursement.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 19, during which the government’s reply and the status of the pension release will be reviewed.