KAVITA Vs. ZILLA PARISHAD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is the widow of Anna Pendam [since deceased]. He was an employee of the Zilla Parishad, Chandrapur (hereafter "the Parishad", for short) who died in harness on 8/6/2007.

(2.) On the allegation that the petitioner's husband had failed to conform to the high standards required to be maintained by those in public employment and that he had failed to deposit Rs.15,38,928.00 in the account of the Parishad upon collection of such amount from farmers, an intimation dtd. 9/2/2009 was issued to the petitioner by the District Agriculture Officer of the Parishad. She was informed thereby that an enquiry was in progress and till such time such enquiry is concluded, family pension would not be paid to her. Upon receipt of such intimation, the petitioner by a representation dtd. 23/9/2009 requested the District Agriculture Officer to provisionally release family pension in her favour to survive. Close on the heels of such request, by an order dtd. 30/10/2009, the petitioner was informed that a sum of Rs.12,67,422.00 not deposited by her late husband in the account of the Parishad would be deducted in monthly installments from the family pension that would be paid to her.

(3.) It is not clear from the pleaded case as regards the precise date on and from which the petitioner started receiving family pension upon deduction and what is the quantum thereof, consequent upon the decision of the Parishad to recover the amount of Rs.12,67,422.00 from such pension in installments.