For 67-year-old R.Shenbagavalli of Tiruvallur district, even a long-drawn court battle seems to have not fetched her family pension.
Despite the court directing the authorities to sanction pension to her, it has not materialised. Granting some more time to the authorities, the court has now cautioned them that if they failed to pass the order in the meantime, the Secretary, Agriculture, should appear to explain why he was not able to comply with the directive.
The woman’s husband, Loganatha Mudali of Chinnakavanam in Ponneri, was working as a watchman under the control of the Block Development Officer, Minjur Panchayat Union here. He died on January 26, 1962 while in service. Shenbagavalli claimed family pension. The family pension was yet to be settled on the sole ground that the service particulars of her husband were not available.
She moved an application before the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal, Madras Bench, in 2003 when she was aged 56. After the abolition of the tribunal, the application came to be transferred to the Madras High Court in 2007.
On October 28 this year, Justice D.Hariparanthaman directed the government to pass appropriate orders, sanctioning pension to the petitioner so that the Principal Accountant-General could authorise the same.
The Judge observed that, unfortunately, even after about three weeks, nothing moved from the government side. However, the Government Advocate sought three weeks time.
Hence, he directed the Secretary, Agriculture, to pass orders by December 9 sanctioning the relief to the petitioner. Otherwise, he should appear before the court and explain why he was unable to carry out the court order.
The matter has been posted for December 9.
e.o.m.
