The Punjab and Haryana High Court has delivered a strong rebuke to the systemic indifference faced by ordinary citizens, specifically coming to the aid of a widow fighting for her late husband's death benefits from the electricity department. The court has taken decisive action to ensure justice is served in a case that highlights bureaucratic delays affecting pensioners' families.
Court's Stern Direction to Haryana Government
In a significant ruling, Justice Sandeep Sharma of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed Haryana's Principal Secretary (Electricity) to personally verify the claims of a widow seeking death benefits of her husband, who was a pensioner from the electricity department. The court has given a strict timeline of two months to complete this verification process and release all pending dues to the petitioner.
The bench expressed strong disapproval of the systemic indifference shown by authorities toward the legitimate claims of ordinary citizens. Justice Sharma emphasized that such bureaucratic delays in settling death benefits cause additional distress to families already grieving the loss of their loved ones.
The Widow's Long Struggle for Justice
The case centers around a widow whose husband had served as a Lower Division Clerk (LDC) in the electricity department before his retirement. Following his passing, the petitioner had been struggling to receive the death benefits that were rightfully owed to her as the legal heir.
Despite repeated attempts and following proper procedures, the widow faced continuous delays and bureaucratic hurdles in having her claims processed. The electricity department's apparent indifference to her plight forced her to approach the High Court as a last resort for justice.
The court noted that such cases are not isolated incidents but represent a broader pattern where government departments fail to respond promptly to the genuine concerns of citizens, particularly those who are vulnerable and lack the resources to navigate complex bureaucratic systems.
Broader Implications and Systemic Reform
This ruling sends a strong message to all government departments in Haryana and beyond about their responsibility toward citizens, especially pensioners and their families. The court's intervention highlights the need for administrative reforms to ensure timely disposal of such claims without requiring judicial intervention.
Justice Sharma's order specifically mandates that the Principal Secretary must conduct personal verification of the widow's claims, indicating the court's seriousness in ensuring proper oversight at the highest levels of administration. This personal involvement of senior officials is expected to set a precedent for handling similar cases in the future.
The two-month deadline established by the court creates an important benchmark for processing death benefit claims, potentially helping numerous other families facing similar situations with various government departments. The judgment emphasizes that citizens' welfare should be the priority of all government machinery, particularly when dealing with the families of retired employees who have served the state.
This case serves as a reminder that the judiciary continues to play a crucial role in protecting citizens' rights against administrative apathy and ensuring that justice is delivered in a timely manner to those who need it most.
