PANAJI
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has recommended the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) to pay interest on retirement benefits to its former Municipal Engineer John Abreu.
The Grade I officer, who superannuated on December 31, 2019, in his complaint against the CCP stated that he had received only his retirement benefits on August 12, 2021 while no interest was paid to him.
The CCP Commissioner, during the hearing, agreed that the interest at the rate of 3 per cent per annum on the principal amount is to be paid.
The Commission noted that based on an order by the Calcutta High Court in Pranesh Kumar versus The State of West Bengal in May 2022, the State is duty bound to disburse the gratuity and pension amount on the due date. If it fails to do so, the concerned State government is liable to pay interest at the rate of 5 per cent.
The GHRC thus recommended that CCP pay the complainant interest calculated from his retirement day till August 11, 2021 at 5 per cent interest per annum on the delayed payment of the principal amount of the retirement benefits.
It has also sought for a report on action taken or proposed to be taken within 60 days, or on or before Nov 17, 2022.
