New Delhi, March 24 — The Supreme Court on Monday criticized the Punjab government for failing to implement the 1996 pension benefit scheme despite repeated assurances, warning that it may directly grant monetary benefits to the beneficiaries if the state continues to delay.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed displeasure over the state’s inaction and its disregard for court orders. “We will record that no officer of the state can be trusted. The state has taken the court for a ride,” Justice Oka said.
The court was hearing a plea concerning the Punjab Privately Managed Affiliated and Punjab Government Aided Colleges Pensionary Benefits Scheme, 1996. The top court had issued a contempt notice to the Punjab chief secretary on March 5 for failing to implement the scheme and violating its undertaking.
Justice Oka further questioned the state’s attitude toward judicial directives. “The state must answer this. We can’t brush aside how courts are treated by the state governments,” he remarked.
Following the submissions, the court directed Punjab’s counsel to seek instructions from the state government and listed the matter for the next hearing on April 1.
