Punjab distributes pension to convicted staff on ‘humanitarian grounds’

[karira]

Punjab distributes pension to convicted staff on ‘humanitarian grounds’

Chandigarh, December 20 The Punjab government seems to be too “humanitarian” for its officials who have already been held guilty and convicted on charges of corruption. A reply given by the Industries Department, Punjab, against information sought by advocate H C Arora regarding the action taken against the convicted officials, makes for an interesting read.

Industries Department, Punjab - a place where employees convicted for corruption are given provisional pension on “humanitarian grounds” - is hard to believe, but the reply given by the Deputy Director (administration) under the RTI Act to an advocate on behalf of the Director, Industries and Commerce, Punjab, vide letter dated November 26 2007, states just that.

In relation to one Darshan Lal Gupta, Inspector (Industries), who was convicted by Special Judge, Moga, on June 13, 2005, for six years’ imprisonment with fine of Rs 1,80,000 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the letter of Deputy Director (Admn) reads “Darshan Lal Gupta, Inspector (Industries), Kotkapura has retired from service on July 31, 2001. His appeal against the sentence given to him by the Court of Special Judge, Moga, is still pending in the High Court.”

The letter further reads “Provisional pension is being paid to Darshan Lal to await the decision on his appeal, and decision has been taken not to pay him gratuity.”

Likewise, in relation to Avinash Kumar, Superintendent in the office of General Manager, District Industries Centre, Moga, who was sentenced to four years imprisonment along with fine of Rs 5,000 again under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the letter of Deputy Director (Admn) reads “Avinash Kumar, Superitendent, office of General Manager, District Industries Centre, has retired on June 30, 2002 on attaining age of superannuation. The appeal is still pending in the High Court. Thus, only on “humanitarian grounds” is he being paid provisional pension till the decision in his appeal, whereas a decision has been taken not to grant him DCRG for the time being.”

The policy of “humanitarian grounds” has been invoked by the Department, whose employees were convicted in “trap cases”.

Rule 2.2 of the Punjab Civil Service Rules, Volume 2, lays down that “The Government reserves the right to withhold or withdraw a pension or any part of it if the pensioner is convicted of a serious crime or be guilty of grave misconduct. “The rules further says “In a case where a pensioner is convicted of a serious crime, action shall be taken in the light of the judgment of the court relating to such conviction.”


Punjab distributes pension to convicted staff on ‘humanitarian grounds’