PHUMAN SINGH Vs. K B S SIDHU, IAS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who joined the Department as Peon on 27.9.1963, was later on promoted on the post of Process Server/Daftri. He retired from the said post on attaining the age of superannuation on 30.4.2005. His retiral benefits, however, were not released. After serving the respondents with a legal notice on 20.9.2005, the petitioner approached this Court by way of C.W.P. No. 17253 of 2005 which was disposed of on 28.10.2005 with a direction to the respondents to take a conscious and cautious decision on the Justice Demand Notice which the petitioner had already served, within a period of one month.

(2.) Alleging non-compliance of the aforesaid order, this contempt petition has been filed.

(3.) In response to the show cause notice, Mr. Vikas Garg, Director, Housing and Urban Development Department, Punjab has filed his affidavit dated 3/ 4-8-2006. Along with the said affidavit, he has appended the gratuity and pension payment orders dated 12.4.2006. It is, thus, averred that the retiral benefits have since been paid to the petitioner. As the facts speak for themselves, the petitioner retired on 30.4.2005 and ought to have been paid his retiral benefits immediately thereafter so that he and his dependents could sustain. Unfortunately, the retiral benefits were not released despite the directions issued by this Court on 28.10.2005 to consider his claim within one month.