Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 18: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench has imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 on Power Development Department with the direction to pay interest at the rate of 7% on amount of Rs 3 lakh to the poor widow which was due to her since 2010.
The order in this regard has been passed by Rajinder Dogra (Judicial Member) and Ram Mohan Johri (Administrative Member) in the petition filed by Chanchal Kumari, who was waiting for the justice since last more than 13 years.
The petitioner’s husband Fakir Chand who had been working as technician in Electrical Division of PDD at Vijaypur died in harness and as per the Welfare Fund Scheme of the department his dependent was supposed to be given Rs 3 lakh. It was the duty of the concerned Assistant Executive Engineer to release the amount on account of death of the petitioner’s husband.
Though the petitioner approached the Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, Vijaypur several times but no heed was paid by the official and the amount was not released. Consequently, she approached the High Court in the year 2022 and later on her case was transferred to CAT Bench of Jammu for further jurisdiction.
Finally, the CAT came to the conclusion that it was sheer negligence on the part of the respondent department who harassed petitioner for approximately 14 years for her legitimate claim. Taking serious note of this, the CAT imposed the cost of Rs 25,000 upon the respondent department for unnecessarily dragging the petitioner to the court.
The CAT further directed the respondents to pay the interest at the rate of 7% on the amount of Rs 3 lakh which was due to her since 2010 till the date of realization of amount. The court has also directed the respondents to make payment to the applicant within a period of 6 weeks and thereafter hold enquiry against the erring official who was posted in Vijaypur Division (Electrical), PDD in the year 2010 and was supposed to release this amount to the applicant.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
