IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No 11882 of 2008 Shajra Khatoon w/o late Mushtaque Ahmad, resident of village - Sikha Devraj, P O : Baswaria, P S : Lauria, Dist : West Champaran, Bettiah - Petitioner Versus 1 The State of Bihar through the Secretary, Department of Health, Government of Bihar, Patna 2 The Secretary, Department of Health, Government of Bihar, Patna 3 The Director-in-Chief, Health Services, Government of Bihar, Patna 4 The Chief Medical Officer-cum-Civil Surgeon, West Champaran, Bettiah 5 The Medical Officer, Primary Health Centre, Narkatiaganj, Dist : West Champaran - Respondents ----------- 3 06.02.2009 The petitioner’s husband died in harness on 04.05.2004. Petitioner’s grievance is that, apart from payment of a lump sum amount without details, nothing further is being paid. It transpires that the said lump sum amount is Rs 2,65,756/- which is on account of Group Insurance, Gratuity and unutilized leave salary, as stated in paragraph-6 of the counter affidavit. So far as General Provident Fund is concerned, it is stated that the GPF account of petitioner’s huaband at Benipatti was not received, as such, the same could not be paid. This, to my mind, is a lame excuse for the simple reason that when petitioner’s husband joined Narkatiaganj how and in which account, his GPF amount was being deposited if previous account is not known. In any view of the matter, the rest of the amount to the credit of his GPF could have been paid. These are all lame excuses to trouble and harass widow of dead people. It is, therefore, directed that so far as GPF is concerned, entire 2 payment must be made to the petitioner within 45 days from today failing which, in addition to the amount payable to the petitioner, petitioner would be liable to be compensated by a payment of Rs 20,000/- which shall be recovered from the person responsible for the delay. So far as family pension is concerned, in the counter affidavit, it is stated that the PPO has been received in the office of Primary Health Centre, Narkatiaganj but the same has not been acted upon in absence of the petitioner. It is said that the petitioner and petitioner’s son were informed but they are not coming forward. This action is a lame excuse. A person would choose to come to the High Court and litigate and not go to the Primary Health Centre to receive the papers, is not acceptable. Be that as it may, I direct the Incharge Medical Officer, Primary Health Centre, Narkatiaganj to ensure, by whatever means, that all necessary formalities for payment of family pension and its arrears to the petitioners are done and completed within 45 days from the date of production of a copy of this order before him by the petitioner or her representative. It may be noted that petitioner’s husband died in 2004 and we are in the year, 2009. For five years, the helpless widow lady has gone without family pension. Failure to carry out any aforesaid direction would call for serious action by the Court. With these observations and directions, this application is disposed of. Petitioner, if she has any grievance, may represent to the 3 Incharge Medical Officer, Primary Health Centre, Narkatiaganj who would immediately consider the same and dispose it of within the same period of 45 days from the date of filing of such representation, if any. M.E.H./ (Navaniti Prasad Singh)