Jaipur, November 8 (Udaipur Kiran): The Rajasthan High Court has sought a reply from the Principal Secretary (Forest), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Jaipur), Deputy Conservator of Forests (Bharatpur), and the Director of Pensions over the non-payment of interest on delayed pension benefits to a retired forester.
Justice Ashok Kumar Jain issued the directive while hearing a petition filed by Brijmohan, a retired forester from the Forest Department under the Bharatpur division.
Advocate Vijay Pathak, representing the petitioner, informed the court that Brijmohan retired on June 30, 2023, after which his monthly pension was sanctioned. Orders were also issued for payment of gratuity, commutation (GPO and CPO), and leave encashment, but the department failed to release these benefits on time and imposed an undeclared hold on the payments.
Despite several representations to the Forest Department and Pension Directorate, no action was taken. The petitioner finally received his leave encashment in May 2024, and gratuity and commutation payments in July 2024, nearly a year after retirement.
The petition contended that under Section 89 of the Rajasthan Pension Rules, an employee is entitled to interest on delayed pension and related benefits, especially when the delay is not attributable to the retiree. It was argued that the delay occurred due to departmental negligence, not any lapse on the petitioner’s part, and therefore he deserves interest on the delayed payments.
After hearing the matter, the single bench of Justice Ashok Kumar Jain issued notices to the concerned officials, directing them to submit their responses on why the interest amount was not paid despite the delay in disbursing pension benefits.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.