North
Delhi Municipal Corporation in its affidavit filed today before a bench of
Justices B D Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva stated that in NDMC, 85,000 persons
have not been paid old age pension since July 2014. These persons are who have
attained age of 60 years; Destitute, Disabled (Deaf, Dumb, Physically handicapped
having infirmity of permanent nature) 40% or more; Blind; Widows; Insane; Crippled;
Divorcee woman; Kinner (ennuch); orphan child till he/she attains the age of 18
years; suffering from serious illness.
The
NDMC has also stated, “The North DMC has not been able to disburse the old age
pension since July 2014 onwards and the yearly budget for this scheme as per
the budget estimate 2015-16 is Rs. 142.16 Crore. Finance is of the view that
North DMC may discontinue the disbursement of old age pension and the
department may request GNCTD to merge the old age pension scheme administered
by the North DMC with the scheme already run by the Social Welfare Department
of GNCTD”.
Earlier,
EDMC told the High Court that it is yet to pay monthly pension since April 2013
to over 30,000 senior citizens under the old age pension scheme.
EDMC
and NDMC replies came in response to a direction by the Court to file a status
report on a PIL by Social Jurist, A Civil Rights Group accusing the Corporations
of stopping the pension to more than 1.15 lakhs people, including the disabled,
widows and the elderly under the scheme.
High
Court had asked all the three Municipal Corporations to file affidavit stating
the number of people entitled to receive pension and the number actually
receiving pension.
The
PIL, filed through Advocate Ashok Agarwal, termed the denial of pension as a
violation of fundamental rights. Agarwal termed the EDMC and NDMC action
“arbitrary and illegal”.
Ashok
Agarwal, Advocate
M.
9811101923
Tel.
011-23070026
21.08.2015
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