SMT. PREM WATI Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) (Oral) - Husband of the petitioner died while in service on 26.6.1976. He was earlier appointed to the post of Driver on 3.3.1973. It could not be disputed during the course of arguments that as per Rule 6.17(2)(i) of Punjab Civil Service Rules, Volume II, widow of a deceased employee is entitled to family pension if the employee had been in service for a period of one year. Nothing at all could be mentioned, during the course of arguments, that may come in the way of the petitioner in giving family pension. A direction is, thus issued to the respondents to calculate the pension payable to the petitioner under the rules and make over the same to her as expeditiously as possible and preferably within four weeks from today. Inasmuch as family pension has been denied to the widow for over a period of about 17 years, as pension scheme became applicable to the department, where husband of the petitioner was working only in 1982 as also for the reason that there is no justification for having denied the family pension to her, in view of this Court, petitioner is entitled to interest @ 10% per annum. So ordered. Let arrears of interest be also calculated and made over to the petitioner within the time stipulated above. Disposed of accordingly. Petition allowed.