HC orders pension benefits to widow
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 09 2024: The High Court of Manipur has ruled in favour of granting pensionary benefits to Thounaojam Mema Devi, setting aside previous rejections by the state government, which were' based on accusations of her late husband using fake educational certificates.

The court's decision, delivered by Justice A Guneshwar Sharma on September 5, challenged the state's reliance on a vigilance report to withhold benefits, stating that it lacked a solid legal foundation under Ride 9 of the CCS Pension Rules, 1977 .

The court pointed out that no formal departmental or criminal proceedings had found Mema Devi's husband guilty during his service.

The petitioner's legal counsel emphasised that her late husband had been reinstated following an earlier termination, which was deemed unjust due to procedural shortcomings.

He continued in service until retirement in 2014 .

Though the state government, represented by advocate Ch Sundari, argued that the vigilance report had never been contested, and Supreme Court judgments tied document authenticity to employment validity, the High Court found no grounds for denying pension benefits.

It noted that all criminal proceedings against Mema Devi's husband had been closed after his death, clearing any remaining allegations.

Ultimately, the High Court instructed the state to process the pension and family benefits for Mema Devi within four months, ensuring timely compliance with its order.

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