Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 14: Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta today directed Chief Secretary to file an affidavit within four weeks indicating the steps taken to grant formal sanction to the cases of old age, widow and handicapped persons which have been approved by the Directorate of Social Welfare for pension.
The Chief Secretary has also been directed to take steps to ensure that the funds, which are received from the Central Government under NSAP Scheme, are also released further for the beneficiaries.
When the PIL filed by Viklang Chattra Trust came-up for hearing, DB observed, “both the State and Central Governments have framed schemes for the benefits of old age persons, widows and physically handicapped persons. In terms of direction dated 31.03.2018, the Director Social Welfare Department has filed the compliance report, wherein the details of the approved cases under the Integrated Social Security Scheme were given for various categories”.
“The approved cases have to be considered by the Government for grant of formal sanction. It is stated that only after the the grant of formal sanction, the beneficiaries, whose cases have been approved, will start getting pensions under various schemes”, the DB further observed.
In pursuance of the order dated 03.07.2018, a stand has been taken that the Directorate of Social Welfare has since forwarded the cases for grant of formal sanction and in that regard various communications have been addressed to the Commissioner Secretary to Government, Social Welfare Department.
“The status report further reflects that a formal decision has to be taken by the State Administrative Council (SAC), which proposes to grant the assistance to all eligible and pending cases during the current financial year”, the DB said, adding “from the report, it transpires that almost one lakh beneficiaries are awaiting the decision of the Government with regard to grant of financial sanction”.
“Considering the fact that the cases pertained to a section of society, which is incapable of supporting itself and Government has framed the schemes for their welfare and for ameliorating their financial status, the issue deserved to be taken up by the Government at the earliest”, DB observed and directed Chief Secretary to file an affidavit within four weeks for bringing on record the steps taken with regard to the grant of formal sanction to the cases which have been approved by the Directorate of Social Welfare.
About the construction of old age home and children home, DB observed, “we have been informed that the pace of work is very slow”, adding “It is surprising that in the State of Jammu & Kashmir there exists no such facility for this section of the society, from the Government, even after so many years of independence”.
DB also directed the Chief Secretary to apprise the court as to what steps have been taken by the Government to ensure speedy implementation of the projects with regard to these two issues.
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