NT Reporter
Panaji
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has held that a prolonged delay in disbursing pensions to retirees and a widow by the Pernem Municipal Council amounted to a violation of human rights. It directed the council to clear all pending dues within 60 days with 8 per cent annual interest and sought a compliance report under the Protection of Human Rights Act.
The commission took
suo motu cognisance of a March 4 report in
‘The Navhind Times’ titled ‘Retirees, widow await
Pernem Civic Pension for 22 months’. An inquiry found that pensioners had not received payments for nearly two years, leading to financial hardship.
In its written submission, the chief officer of
the Pernem Municipal Council said there was a delay of 21 months, citing financial constraints and pending approval of a
special grant proposal submitted to the Directorate of Municipal Administration.
The commission noted that no representative of the council was present during the hearing.
Referring to the Supreme Court judgment in Dr Hira Lal vs State of Bihar, the GHRC said pension is a legal right and not a discretionary benefit, adding that it is compensation for past service.
It said the non-payment of pensions from July
2024 to March 2026 deprived beneficiaries of
their source of livelihood and resulted in a violation of their rights.
GHRC rap for Pernem council over 21-month pension delay
