GAJANAND PRASAD Vs. THE BIHAR STATE HOUSING BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The writ petition has been filed by the petitioner with a prayer for quashing the information supplied to him by the appellate authority under the Right to Information Act (for short 'RTI') whereby he has been intimated that his name is not in the list of beneficiary of the Group Gratuity Scheme (for short 'Scheme'). The petitioner has also prayed that after quashing the said information supplied by the appellate authority, respondents be directed to make payment to the petitioner under the Scheme Master Policy No.249060.

(2.) The contention of the petitioner is that he had superannuated from the service of the Bihar State Housing Board (for short 'Board') on 31.12.2012 from Bhagalpur Divis ion, Bhagalpur. Soon after his retirement, the Accounts Officer of the Board issued a latter on 18.11.2014 by which he requested the Branch Manager, Life Insurance Corporation of India (for short 'LIC'), Pension and Group Insurance Department, Divisional Office, Frazer Road, Patna for payment of due amount of the Schemes Master Policy No.249060 in which name of the petitioner was running at serial no.10341. After receipt of the said letter, the LIC did not make payment to the petitioner. Being aggrieved, the petitioner sought for an information under the RTI as to why the payment is not being made to him under the Scheme. Since information was not supplied by the Information Officer, he approached the appellate authority where after the appellate authority supplied the required information on 02.11.2015 informing the petitioner that his name is not running in the Scheme Policy No. 249066. Hence, payment can not be made to him.

(3.) Assailing the aforesaid information, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner being an employee of the Board as also being a member of the Scheme of the LIC is entitled for payment of gratuity after his superannuation from the post of Assistant Pump Operator.