IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No. 18522 of 2010 Date of Decision: 30.03.2011 Dr. Sandeep Kumar ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others ..Respondents. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RANJAN GOGOI, CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2. Whether to be referred to the Reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? Present : Mr. H.C.Arora, Advocate for the petitioner. Ms. Madhu Dayal, Addl. A.G. Punjab for the respondents. **** RANJAN GOGOI, C.J.(Oral) Some time in the year 2008 a scrutiny of the eligibility of the beneficiaries to old age pension, widow pension etc. was carried out. According to the petitioner over 18000 persons were found to be ineligible. Benefits to the persons who were found to be ineligible were required to be withheld/stopped and such benefits that had already been granted were liable to be recovered. According to the petitioner, however, by order dated 22.09.2010, a fresh scrutiny of all such cases has been ordered and till finalization of the same pension has been directed to be continued. Aggrieved, this PIL has been filed. CWP No. 18522 of 2010 [2] On the previous date i.e. 16.03.2011, a query was made by the Court, though not recorded in the order, as to the possible time frame within which the re-scrutiny will be completed. Pursuant to the said query,an additional affidavit has been filed on behalf of the State wherein it has been stated that the process of re-scrutiny has been completed in Moga District and out of 2623 beneficiaries initially found to be ineligible 878 beneficiaries have been found to be ineligible. Similarly, out of 1281 beneficiaries found to be absent in the initial scrutiny 218 beneficiaries were found to be absent in the re- scrutiny. In so far as the re-scrutiny in the other districts is concerned, a statement has been made that the same is expected to be completed by the end of May, 2011. Ms. Dayal, learned Addl. Advocate General, who has appeared on behalf of the State of Punjab, has further submitted that the cases of the ineligible persons as per the latest scrutiny have been submitted to the appropriate authority in the State Government for its decision in the matter and similarly once the reports of the other districts are received the necessity of the action to be taken will be referred to the appropriate authority for its decision. The matter being so poised we are of the view that the appropriate authority in the State Government shall now decide on the entitlement of the beneficiaries who have been found to be ineligible and absent in Moga District. The process of re-scrutiny in all other districts of the State shall be completed on or before 30.06.2011 and CWP No. 18522 of 2010 [3] thereafter the cases of those found to be ineligible or the persons found to be absent will be referred to the concerned authority in the State Government for its decision. Such decision of the appropriate authority in the matter already referred (Moga District) and the matters to be referred (other districts) shall be completed by the said authority without any delay. The concerned authority in the State Government will also take a decision with regard to the persons stated to be dead in the report already submitted. Similar decision will be taken in respect of all such persons in the report(s) to be submitted in respect of the other districts. PIL is disposed of in the above terms. However, we leave it open for the petitioner to approach this Court once again in case he continues to feel aggrieved with regard to the implementation of this order. (RANJAN GOGOI) CHIEF JUSTICE (KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA) JUDGE 30.03.2011 'ravinder'