LAKHI DEVI, WIFE OF LATE SUDARSHAN PRASAD, RESIDENT OF VILLAGE & P.O. BHAGWANPUR HAT, DISTRICT Vs. THE SECRETARY, JHARKHAND STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, PROJECT BUILDING, P.O. DHURWA, P.S. JAGARNATHPUR, DISTRICT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed for payment of arrears of salary, amount of family pension, gratuity and other post retiral dues with effect from 15.10.1998 since the husband of the petitioner had died on 14.10.1998 in harness and no payment has been made till date.

(2.) The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the husband of the petitioner late Sudarshan Prasad was posted as Meter Reader, Electric Division, Jamshedpur, under the erstwhile Bihar State Electricity Board on the basis of matriculation certificate. Some doubts appeared regarding genuineness of the matriculation certificate of the husband of the petitioner and as such, correspondence was made from Bihar Vidyalay Pariksha Samitee, Patna for verification of the date of birth as also for the genuineness of the matriculation certificate vide letter contained in Memo No. 954 dated 08.09.1994 issued by Director (Personnel) Bihar State Electricity Board, Patna. Thereafter, husband of the petitioner was directed to submit original mark-sheet, original admit card and school leaving certificate by the Director (Personnel) but for some reason husband of the petitioner failed to submit the same and as such, he was placed under suspension vide office order no. 2420 dated 10.06.1998.

(3.) Joint Secretary (Vigilance), Bihar Vidyalaya Pariksha Samitee, Patna vide letter no. 42 dated 18.08.1998 informed the Electrical Superintending Engineer, Electric Supply Division, Jamshedpur that the service of late Surendra Prasad was found to be forged. It is stated that although the husband of the petitioner was placed under suspension and some proceeding was initiated, no punishment was imposed upon late delinquent Sudarshan Prasad and in the meantime, he died in harness on 14.10.1998 during his suspension.