Employee’s death leaves family in poverty; the state must quickly fulfill its legal responsibilities with compassion, says Allahabad High Court.

The Allahabad High Court has criticized the 14-year delay in paying dues to the family of a deceased employee, stating that the State must act quickly and with compassion in such situations. This was discussed in a Writ Petition brought to the Court. Justice Ajay Bhanot pointed out that the delay in payment was due to the negligence of the respondents. He noted that the death of an employee leaves the family in a difficult position, losing both their emotional support and their main source of income. The petitioner was represented by Advocate Bramh Narayan Singh, while the respondent was represented by C.S.C., Manu Singh.

The retirement benefits of the petitioner’s late husband were finally paid to her after a significant delay. She has requested interest on the late payment. The dues were not paid on time, leading the petitioner to file a writ petition in 2019. Despite the Court’s orders, the payment was still not made, prompting her to file a contempt petition. Ultimately, the amounts owed to her after her husband’s death were disbursed at the end of the year. The Court observed that the counter affidavit did not provide any reason for the delay in processing the family pension and provident fund that the petitioner was entitled to.

The Court stated that in such situations, it is important for State authorities to act quickly and with compassion according to the law. However, the authorities showed a lack of concern for the petitioner’s situation. The family of the deceased employee should not be mistreated by demanding their rights from harsh officials. The Court ruled that the respondents must pay interest on the late payment. It concluded that the respondents are responsible for paying interest to the petitioner for the delayed pension and other final payments of the deceased employee. Therefore, the Petition was granted.

Cause Title: Smt. Krishnawati vs. State Of U.P. And 3 Others (2024:AHC:177439)