Court orders arrear payment to ailing employee

SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has asked the Centre to provide full pension benefits to an ailing employee.
During the hearing of the case on Thursday, senior counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner, Cerilla Khonglah, is bedridden and she is also not in a position to communicate. Besides that, her brain is damaged and she needs immediate medical treatment, but till date she could not proceed for the treatment due to financial constraint and ultimately, she had to take help from Legal Aid Counsel.
The counsel for the petitioner wanted arrears of Rs 9,23,711 immediately.
However, additional solicitor general appearing on behalf of the Centre, reiterated that Rs 28,79,832 was paid to her on September 25, 2014, and raised the question where the money has gone.
A letter was written to the Ministry of Human Resource Development but till date no sanction has come from the Indian Council of Social Science Research.
In his order, Justice SR Sen said the petitioner has received Rs 28,79,832 but the question as to where she has spent the money is not the concern of the court or others but she has to get her entitlement.
“If she does not get within the stipulated time, the whole exercise will become futile,” court said, directing the concerned authority to pay her arrear as claimed by the petitioner within two weeks,” the court added.
HC takes up retirement benefits to judges
The High Court of Meghalaya on Thursday took up the retirement benefits of judges. During the hearing on the matter, Justice S R Sen said everything should be finalised pertaining to all the facilities to retired judges and that should be placed in rules.
Earlier, government advocate A Kharwanlang submitted that within 10 days everything will be finalised.
The additional advocate general also filed a letter on November 14 pertaining to the Retired Judges Secretarial Assistance and Domestic Help Rules 2013 addressed to the registrar general, wherein it appears that the matter has been referred back for reconsideration.
The registry has been directed to place the matter before the full court pertaining to other facilities of retired judges.
“I made it clear that the matter should be completed within 10 days and to place the same in rules in consultation with the High Court of Meghalaya, failing which the person responsible for looking after all the matters shall be compelled to appear in person and stern action will be taken,” the order said.
The matter will be listed after 10 days.