New Delhi, March 05: The Supreme Court will hear a petition challenging the government’s “discrimination” against nearly 1.5 lakh employees of 69 central public sector undertakings (CPSUs) by not implementing a Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendation to pay them increased retirement benefits. The plea, filed by several retired PSU employees and senior citizens, is scheduled for urgent hearing on March 8 before a Division Bench of Justices H S Bedi and J M Panchal.
The petition questions the government’s alleged denial of improved “death-cum-retirement gratuity” benefits despite a recommendation from the Central Pay Commission to implement the measures with effect from January 1, 2006.
These employees, who come under the Central Dearness Allowance — an allowance granted against price rise — scheme, are not paid monthly pension unlike Central Government employees.
“The petitioners are retired officers subsisting purely on interest earned from the retirement benefits paid to them,” states the petition. The Commission had duly recommended a hike in the ceiling limit — from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh — in their benefits. The petition notes that the Centre “accepted” the 6th CPC’s recommendation, but never delivered.
—–Agencies