Delhi High Court
Harpal Singh Rana vs Govt. Of Nct. Of Delhi & Ors. on 21 September, 2020
Equivalent citations: AIRONLINE 2020 DEL 1299
Author: Prateek Jalan
Bench: Chief Justice, Prateek Jalan
$~8.
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Decided on: 21st September, 2020
+ W.P.(C) 4394/2020
HARPAL SINGH RANA ..... Petitioner
Through: Mr. Akhil Rana and Mr.Utkarsh
Sharma, Advocates
Versus
GOVT. OF NCT. OF DELHI & ORS. ..... Respondents
Through: Mr.Anjum Javed, ASC for GNCTD
with Mr.Faran Ahmed & Mr.Devender Verma,
Advs.
CORAM:
HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN
JUDGMENT
: D. N. PATEL, Chief Justice (Oral) Proceedings in the matter have been conducted through video conferencing.
1. This Public Interest Litigation has been preferred with the following prayers:
"i. The Respondents be directed to release the amount urgently after due verification of those pensioners whose pension has been withheld and is discontinued only on the imaginary grounds.
ii. That the financial parameter for window pension and for the financial assistance to the marriage of a widow‟s daughter should be same.
iii. That the fresh applications for the pension benefits be disposed of in pursuance of the circular issued by the respondent i.e. within the within 45 days W.P.(C)4394/2020 Page 1 of 4 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PANKAJ KUMAR Location: Signing Date:22.09.2020 16:58:56 iv. The fate of the applications(acceptance/rejection) of the above mentioned schemes should be communicated to the applicants with justified/sufficient reason through Anganwadi/Asha workers in writing & the receipt of the same should be given to the applicants by the Asha workers.
v. Receiving should be given to the applicant by the officials while submitting the incomplete documents in the respective offices.
vi. Time extension for the above stated schemes should be given to the applicants for applying due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and lockdown. vii. Forms of Ladli Yojana as well as Financial assistance to the marriage of the Widow‟s daughter be submitted online.
viii. Pass any further order/s that this Hon‟ble Court may deems fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present Petition & may also be passed in favour of the petitioner & against the respondents."
2. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and looking to the facts and circumstances of the case, it appears that now a detailed counter affidavit has been filed by respondent No.2/Department of Women and Child Development, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.
3. Looking to the affidavit filed by respondent No.2, especially paragraphs 1, 2, 4 and 6 thereof, it appears that certain steps have already been initiated by the respondents for making payment of pension to the widows under the Delhi Pension to Women in Distress Scheme and also under the Scheme Of Financial Assistance to the Poor Widows for Performing the Marriage of Their Daughters And Orphan Girls (upto two daughters).
W.P.(C)4394/2020 Page 2 of 4 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PANKAJ KUMAR Location: Signing Date:22.09.2020 16:58:564. For ready reference, paragraphs 1, 2, 4 and 6 of the counter affidavit dated 17th August, 2020, filed by respondent No.2 is reproduced hereunder:-
"1. That, Under the scheme of "Delhi Pension to Women in Distress" payment to 255640 beneficiaries of Widow Pension upto the month of June, 2020 has been remitted. Under the scheme of "Financial assistance to the poor widows for performing the marriage of their daughters and Orphan Girls (up to two daughters)", financial assistance to 393 beneficiaries has been remitted upto the month of May, 2020. No pension has been withheld on imaginary grounds.
2. That, the Financial parameter for both the schemes has been brought at par from ₹ 60000/- to ₹ 100000/- (applicant's income from all sources). The Council of Ministers has given approval for the enhancement of the income ceiling. The file is under submission for the approval of notification of the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor.
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4. That, In respect of online applications status of the application (i.e. acceptance/rejection) is displayed on the e- district portal and an SMS is sent by the portal on the mobile no. of the applicant. In offline cases, status of the application is informed through District offices through anganwadi / Asha workers.
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6. That, Time extension for the above stated schemes has already been given vide order dated 26.06.2020 and applications are being accepted till 31/08/2020."
5. It is stated by learned counsel appearing for the respondents that they are making payments as follows:-
a. Pension to the widows @ ₹2,500/- per month; b. One-time payment of ₹20,000/- under the scheme floated by the respondents namely "Delhi Pension to Women in Distress"; and W.P.(C)4394/2020 Page 3 of 4 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PANKAJ KUMAR Location: Signing Date:22.09.2020 16:58:56 c. One-time payment of ₹ 60,000 (now enhanced to ₹1,00,000/-) under the scheme floated by the respondents namely "Financial Assistance to the poor widows for performing the marriage of their daughters and Orphan Girls (upto two daughters)".
6. In view of these facts and also looking to the steps already initiated by the respondents for making payment of pension to the widows under various schemes, we see no reason to further monitor this case. However, we expect from the respondents that the aforesaid payments to the widows shall be continued under the various schemes.
7. With these observations this writ petition is disposed of.
CHIEF JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN, J SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 „anb‟ W.P.(C)4394/2020 Page 4 of 4 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PANKAJ KUMAR Location: Signing Date:22.09.2020 16:58:56