PHOTO: LHC.GOV.PK
LAHORE:
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court on Friday issued a contempt of court notice to Punjab government treasurer Muhammad Rafique for not implementing an earlier court order to pay arrears to pensioners in the Punjab.
The court was told on Friday that the treasurer, in charge of the complaint cell made to resolve issues of paying arrears to pensioners, had passed a judgment on the matter instead of dealing with the cases according to court orders. The court found his order contrary to the court orders and issued him a contempt of court notice and asked him to reply to it at the next hearing.
The court also summoned the Finance Department secretary at the next hearing to submit a reply on steps that should be taken to address the grievances of pensioners.
The Punjab chief secretary has also been summoned in person by the court.
The judge also ordered dissolution of the complaint cell established by Finance Department. The judge has sought a report on the implementation of this order on March 20.
Several pensioners from various departments had filed petitions seeking implementation of a Supreme Court judgment ordering payment of arrears of pensions.
The petitioners said that they were allowed to draw 50 per cent of their pension every month and receive the remaining 50 per cent as a lump sum payment after 15 years. After 15 years or when a pensioner reached the age of 75, they were entitled to full pension, they said.
The petitioners said that the Supreme Court had ordered all provincial governments to pay the arrears but the Punjab government had not complied with the order. They said despite the SC’s order, the Punjab Finance Department had set up a complaint cell to review cases of pensioners. They said the government was using the cell to create problems for pensioners.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah summoned the finance secretary and the Punjab chief secretary in person and ordered them to implement the Supreme Court’s orders without delay.
The petitioners’ counsel said that the Punjab Ombudsman had also declared the complaint cell illegal.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2015.
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