MHA seeks time to file reply on Rathore's pension

The union home ministry today sought three weeks' time from the Central Administrative Tribunal to submit its reply on release of former Haryana police chief SPS Rathore's pension, withheld from June, after his conviction in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

The union home ministry on Thursday sought three weeks' time from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to submit its reply on release of former Haryana police chief SPS Rathore's pension, withheld from June, after his conviction in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

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Rathore had moved the tribunal on September 2 against the ministry's decision to withhold his pension permanently. Following this, the CAT had issued a notice to ministry and asked it to submit its reply.

In his plea to CAT, Rathore had claimed that the allegations raised against him about the incident of misconduct were not related to the discharge of his official duties for which he is entitled to get pension.

"The alleged act of misconduct has not resulted in any pecuniary loss to the central or state government. Action of the MHA (ministry of home affairs) in withholding full pension on a permanent basis is also discriminatory and, hence, in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India," said Rathore.

The next date of hearing in CAT is slated on January 18.

The 69-year-old Rathore was convicted on May 25 and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. He was lodged at the high-security Burail jail from where he was released on bail on November 12.