BANK OF BARODA HYDERABAD Vs. LALITHA SHANKARNARAYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Bank of Baroda is the appellant and the order dated 17.03.2003 passed in W.P.No. 12090 of 2002 is under appeal. By the said order, the learned Judge directed the Bank to treat the application filed by the respondent herein as being within time and to pass appropriate orders for sanctioning pension to her within a time frame. The respondent filed the subject writ petition assailing the letter dated 08.04.2002, addressed by the Bank rejecting her claim for payment of pension in spite of the Succession Certificate dated 12.032001 obtained by her in O.P. No. 839 of 1994.

(2.) The facts in brief. R.S. Shankarnarayanan, the husband of the respondent died in harness, while working as the Manager of the Coonoor Branch of the Bank, on 16.01.1990 in a road accident. Her son was granted compassionate appointment as a Clerk in the Bank. She applied for sanction of pension in the year 1996. The same was rejected under the impugned letter dated 08.04.2002.

(3.) It is not in dispute that one other lady by name Rohini claimed to be the wife of the respondent's husband and approached the Bank asserting a right over his terminal benefits under the Will said to have been executed by him. The letter dated 16.11.1991 addressed by the Chairman and Managing Director of the Bank to the Joint Secretary, Banking Division, New Delhi, is relevant in this context and reads as under;