The Punjab and Haryana high court has given six weeks’ time to the Haryana government to ensure regular financial assistance to the family members of all the deceased government employees.
The direction came on a petition filed by one Sona Devi, a resident of Nuh in Mewat, who had approached the court over the irregular disbursal of financial assistance by the government to her.
She had submitted that after the death of her husband, the monthly ex- gratia payment in terms of the Haryana Compassionate Assistance to the dependents of Deceased Government Employees Rules, 2006 framed by the state government, was not being released to her regularly.
Many times, there was delay up to 10 months. She had four children, who were studying and she was having difficulty in meeting the day-today expenses. She was entitled to monthly financial grant equivalent to the last drawn salary of her husband, she had submitted.
In the compliance report filed by the government, it was revealed that the government released Rs 16 crore to 369 such similar cases following the court’s intervention. The education department told the court that the delay in disbursal of assistance was due to delay in release of grant for the purpose from the government.
“The facts stated in the affidavit clearly suggest that the purpose for which rules were framed for giving ex-gratia payment to the family of deceased government employee has really failed to achieve the object as the amount is not being paid to them regularly.
In the compliance report filed by the government, it was revealed that the government released Rs 16 crore to 369 such similar cases following the court’s intervention. The education department told the court that the delay in disbursal of assistance was due to delay in release of grant for the purpose from the government.
“The facts stated in the affidavit clearly suggest that the purpose for which rules were framed for giving ex-gratia payment to the family of deceased government employee has really failed to achieve the object as the amount is not being paid to them regularly.
The case pertained to education department only. Once the ground taken in the education department is non-release of grant in time, the position may be similar in other departments also,” the court observed.
The court has now directed the government to file before the high court complete details of the cases wherein payments had been made to all such families and also as to how it will ensure that payments are made regularly in future in all such cases.
The court also asked as to how the government will ensure that payment was made to persons so entitled to.