CWP No.170 of 2010.doc - 1 – HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH **** CWP No.170 of 2010 (O&M) Date of Decision: 30.09.2010 **** Ram Parshad & Ors. . . . . Petitioners VS. State of Punjab & Ors. . . . . . Respondents **** CORAM : HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT **** 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? **** Present: Mr. Peeush Gagneja, Advocate for the petitioner Mr. K.D.S. Sidhu, DAG Punjab Mr. Anil Kumar, Sharma, Addl. AG Punjab Mr. Ashish Yadav, Advocate for respondent No.4&5 ***** SURYA KANT J. (ORAL) (1). The petitioners are the retirees of the Municipal Council, Abohar and have approached this Court for issuance of a direction to the respondents to release their pensionary and other retiral benefits along with due interest. (2). Mr. Anil Kumar, Sharma, learned Addl. AG Punjab states that the arrears of pension payable to the petitioners have been deposited with respondent CWP No.170 of 2010.doc - 2 – No.3 and the same have also been disbursed upto August 2010. (3). Learned counsel for the petitioner, however, points out that those who have retired after 1st January, 2006 have not been granted the benefit of revised pension so far. (4). On the basis of the Government instructions dated 26.05.2010, it is stated by learned State counsel that the claim of the petitioners shall be considered in due course of time as presently due to the financial crisis being faced by the Municipal Council, they are unable to revise the pension. (5). I do not find any merit in the above-noticed explanation as there cannot be any rationale behind discrimination amongst the retirees on the basis of incidental factors like the cut off date, especially when the pay scales/pension in the State of Punjab has been revised w.e.f. 01.01.2006 and the employees who retired w.e.f. 01.01.2006 are undoubtedly entitled for the grant of pension as per the revised pay scales. However, keeping in view the fact that there is a financial crunch in the Municipal Council, Abohar, the respondents are directed to release the pension/revised pension to the petitioners as expeditiously as possible. CWP No.170 of 2010.doc - 3 – (6). Ordered accordingly. (7). Dasti . (SURYA KANT) JUDGE 30.09.2010 vishal shonkar