The Rajasthan High Court has criticised the bureaucratic approach of government officials in releasing retirement benefits. The single judge bench said the benefits must be given timely, without making the retirees run from pillar to post.
Justice Ajay Rastogi in a detailed order said the typical bureaucratic mindset of government officials needs to change.
The order came on a writ petition filed by Shakuntla Sharma, wife of a former Chief Engineer-cum-additional secretary who retired from the service in 1969.
The officer stopped getting pension after September, 1971 without any reason.
“The government failed to show why the pension has been stopped and only lame excuses have been given which shows that the government officials who are in service have no respect for retired persons,” observed Justice Rastogi.
The court added a note of caution, observing, “those in service today must remember that they will also retire in time to come…this court records its displeasure with this bureaucratic approach of not granting due benefits.”
The court directed the state government to release the pension of the deceased husband of the petitioner from October 1971 with an interest of 9 per cent per annum.
This is a common characteristic in Bengal right from the British days and being perpetuated through the Congress and, especially, the Leftist rule! And, there will be no change in the coming regime too. MCD is also known for its harassing attitude, evebn today, especially for the ladies.