Consider government employee's plea to include live-in partner in family pension: Delhi HC to Centre

Key Highlights

• The Bench, therefore, set aside a 2018 order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) upholding the decision of the authorities to withhold 50% of monthly pensionary and gratuity benefits be given to the personnel who retired in 2012.
• "We find no legitimate reason for the respondents to permanently withhold 50% of the petitioner's monthly pension and gratuity or for denying family pension to the petitioner's dependents," the court said in its judgement passed on January 7.
• "Accordingly, we direct the respondents to release the aforesaid amounts to the petitioner, along with interest on the delayed payments at the rate of 6% per annum, from the date they became due to the date of actual payment.
• "The respondents are further directed to consider the petitioner's plea to include the name of [the partner] and her children in the Pension Payment Order for family pension and CGHS facilities," it ordered.
• According to the petitioner, after his wife deserted him without agreeing for a divorce, he started cohabiting with another woman in 1983 and two children were also born from their relationship.