The Madras High Court bench here on Thursday directed the secretary of the Health and Family Welfare department to consider an Assistant Surgeon’s representation to include his name under the General Provident Fund scheme within two weeks.
Justice S. Nagamuthu issued the direction while closing a contempt petition filed against the official for failing to comply with an order of the High Court, dated July 26, 2011.
The petitioner, Harry Nihal Nayagam, Assistant Surgeon (Dental) at the Government Hospital, Kuzhithurai, claimed in his petition that he assumed office on November 12, 2003.
He had submitted a representation to the Accountant General-Finance (pension) department to entitle him to benefits under the General Provident Fund (GPF) scheme, the petitioner added. But officials declared him eligible for benefits under the Contributory pension scheme instead, the petitioner claimed.
Dr. Nayagam submitted in his contempt petition that he had filed a petition in the High Court and a single judge had passed an order directing the Secretary of the health and family welfare department to consider his representation, seeking inclusion of his name for benefits under the GPF scheme, and pass an order within 12 weeks.
The petitioner claimed that the official had failed to consider his representation even after the lapse of almost two years since the court had issued the direction.
On Thursday, J. Radhakrishnan, the secretary of the health and family welfare department, appeared in court and undertook to pass an order within two weeks.
The judge closed the contempt case after recording the submission of the official.
