The Kerala State Human Rights Commission the other day gave the directive for timely distribution of welfare pensions by the State Government.
The distribution of the pension done through the local self-government bodies has been delayed for the last eight months following delay in the allocation of funds.
Human Rights Commission chairman Justice J B Koshy asked the Chief Secretary to ensure that welfare pensions are disbursed in a timely fashion.
The commission was pronouncing the order following a petition filed by Kilimanoor Ajith.
Panel Intervenes to Disburse Salary
The Human Rights Commission intervened with the Treasury Department to pass the arrears bill and disburse the salary of a Motor Vehicle Inspector who received the Chief Minister’s Vishist Seva Medal.
Commission chairman Justice J B Koshy’s order was based on a petition by B Venukumar, Motor Vehicle Inspector here.
Venukumar’s complaint was that after getting promoted from the post of Assistant MVI in Attingal to the MVI here, he had not been getting salary for four months.
Venukumar had stated in the complaint that his life became miserable as his wife was unemployed and he had to look after a family of two children, wife and ailing mother.
The salary was delayed as he had to get the pay slip from the Accountant General’s (AG’s) Office by virtue of his promotion to the gazetted post.
Though he was entitled to get the previous post’s salary, prior to the promotion, till the pay slip is issued, the Spark system being used to disburse the salary did not work out in his case.
Though he submitted the salary bill in July after collecting the pay slip, the Treasury officials asked him for more time to pass the bill.
Based on the complaint, the Rights panel chief asked for an explanation from the treasury officer who maintained that the delay caused in issuing the pay slip from the AG’s office led to the delay in disbursing the salary.
Following orders from the Rights panel, the District Treasury Officer passed the arrears bill.