Morung Express News
Kohima | September 15
The Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench has directed the directed the Government of Nagaland and concerned departments to complete the verification of eligible persons for Old Age Pension in the State within three months from September 14.
It further directed for sending the “proposal to the concerned Ministry so that the eligible persons get the benefit of Old Age Pension at the earliest.”
The Division Bench of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema gave the directions while hearing public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2021 to “espouse the cause of persons who have been denied from getting the benefit of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, which is a 100% a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented in the State.”
The scheme ensures monthly pension to members of BPL family, who are aged 60 years and above.
Although the scheme is being implemented in the State of Nagaland, but the benefit is not being given to the actual beneficiaries and in fact there are many bogus beneficiaries to whom the benefit has been given, the petitioner had earlier submitted.
During the hearing on September 14, the counsel for the petitioner submitted before Bench that the former, with the help of Pro Bono Club, Kohima Law College have taken the trouble to identify 196 persons who are eligible for the Old Age Pension while the names have been already given earlier.
Accordingly, the Bench issued to directive to the State respondents - State of Nagaland, Represented by the Chief Secretary; Secretary, Mission Director and Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Social Welfare; Secretary and Director, Department of Rural Development; and Secretary, Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment – to undertake the verification.
While doing so, the State respondents shall also include the names of the persons identified by the petitioner if they are eligible for the benefit, the Bench said, listing the matter for hearing again after three months.
On the next date, the counsels appearing for the respondents shall submit an affidavit of compliance, it added.
