PANAJI
A 90-year-old retired teacher, Datatray Babarao Ambeker, will finally receive his pension after fighting for it for over 35 years. The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the State government to immediately disburse his pensionary benefits, which had been withheld for decades due to a procedural lapse dating back to 1988.
The Division Bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan observed that Ambeker’s pension had been unjustly withheld only because he could not submit an option form for the new pension scheme while he was under suspension and facing disciplinary proceedings at that time. The court noted that his suspension and termination were later revoked by the Tribunal, thus restoring his service benefits.
“In this peculiar situation, we direct that the concerned officers shall treat the Petitioner as having given his option for the pensionary benefits under the pensionary scheme. The Authorities shall treat the Petitioner’s case accordingly and disburse his pension as expeditiously as possible... It is needless to add that if he is entitled to the pensionary benefits, it has to be given to him immediately,” reads the order.
The court also allowed Ambeker to approach the Director of Education regarding delays in other payments from the school, instructing that any such representation be decided promptly.
“The Petitioner is at liberty to make an appropriate representation before the Director of Education. If he makes such a representation, the same shall be decided as expeditiously as possible,” the Bench said while disposing of the writ petition.
