HC cautions Accountant General over employee pension compliance
Shimla, May 1,
Shimla, May 1,
In major relief to various state government pensioners who are keenly watching to get first installment of their pension pending with the various authorities Himachal Pradesh High court sough reply about delay in fixation of pension benefits after passing many years after their retirement.
Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state authorities to ensure full compliance with its earlier judgment in a pension-related matter involving Dharam Chand, while seeking an explanation for the delay in its implementation.
Hearing an execution petition (No. 97 of 2025), on April 28 Justice Ajay Mohan Goel was informed by counsel representing the office of the Principal Accountant General that a Pension Payment Order (PPO) had been prepared and that steps were underway to release pension in favour of the petitioner.
However, the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Parav Sharma, contested the manner in which the pension was being processed.
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He submitted that the respondents intended to release pension benefits with effect from January 1, 2018, which, he argued, was inconsistent with the court’s earlier judgment.
According to the ruling, the pension was to be calculated notionally from the due date, with actual monetary benefits payable from August 2015 onwards.
In response, counsel for the Accountant General’s office stated that necessary instructions in this regard would have to be issued by the concerned department before proceeding further.
Taking note of the submissions, the court expressed concern over the apparent non-compliance of its judgment and directed the Additional Advocate General to clarify why the decision had not been implemented in “letter and spirit.”
On the request of the state’s counsel, the matter has been adjourned and listed for further hearing on June 4, 2026. The court also directed that, in the intervening period, the department must take necessary steps to ensure compliance with its earlier order.
The case highlights ongoing procedural delays in execution of court orders related to pension entitlements, an issue frequently raised before the court in service matters.
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