Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 5: A meeting of Pensioners and Senior Citizens Welfare Society J&K was held under the chairmanship of its president Mir Ghulam Rasool Batwinee here, today in which grave concern was expressed that pensioners in J&K are being asked by certain bank branches to furnish undertakings regarding recovery of alleged excess payments in their pension accounts. This practice has caused great anxiety and mental stress among senior citizens, who depend solely on their pensions for survival, the meeting said.
The meeting said while the Government rules may provide for recovery of excess payments, it is pertinent to clarify that pension fixation and revision are the responsibilities of the Accountant General and the concerned treasury officers, not the pensioners. Any error in calculation, revision, or release of pension should be rectified at the administrative level without unnecessarily dragging elderly pensioners into procedural formalities.
It expressed serious concern over the role of some bank branches, where pensioners are being compelled to submit undertakings at the bank branches. Such actions amount to harassment of senior citizens, many of whom are aged, ailing, and unable to make frequent visits.
The meeting said pensioners cannot be penalized for mistakes committed by offices responsible for fixation and disbursement. The Supreme Court has, in various judgments, held that recovery from retired employees in cases not involving misrepresentation or fraud is unjust and improper, especially when the beneficiaries are senior citizens.
The meeting demanded the higher authorities of J&K Bank to immediately intervene and issue clear directions to all branches, to stop unnecessary harassment of pensioners. Besides, any discrepancy in pension fixation be resolved directly between the bank, the Accountant General, and the Treasury without compelling pensioners to submit repetitive undertakings.
It urged the administration to ensure a pensioner-friendly mechanism for resolving such issues in a time-bound and humane manner.
The meeting was attended by various members including state secretary for Pensioners D N Sadhu.
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