The Punjab and Haryana high court has made it clear to the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) to ensure complete payment of commutation of pension and other retiral benefits to hundreds of employees before February 2014 and not to drag them in another round of litigation.
The directions came from the court headed by justice Mahesh Grover during the hearing of a bunch of 31 contempt of court petitions by retired PRTC employees, including Narinder Kumar.
The petitioners were forced to approach the high court in contempt petitions since the PRTC had failed to fully comply with various high court directions issued earlier in many cases.
During the hearing of the case, the PRTC informed the court that substantial amount of payments had been made to the petitioners on account of gratuity, GPF (general provident fund), leave encashment, arrears of pay and regular monthly pension. But the only component that remained to be satisfied was the commutation of pension and statutory interest on the gratuity etc.
However, justice Grover made it clear, "Undisputedly, the prayer of the respondent corporation for enlargement of time to satisfy the commutation of pension aspect of the dues of the petitioners has been specifically declined by this court, thereby leaving no room for the respondent corporation to delay or evade satisfaction of such a liability."
{{/usCountry}}However, justice Grover made it clear, "Undisputedly, the prayer of the respondent corporation for enlargement of time to satisfy the commutation of pension aspect of the dues of the petitioners has been specifically declined by this court, thereby leaving no room for the respondent corporation to delay or evade satisfaction of such a liability."
{{/usCountry}}The court also granted liberty to the petitioners to approach the corporation for satisfaction of their dues on account of any miscellaneous or sundry claims that still remain outstanding and which the corporation was duty-bound to settle as per its assurance before the court.