Supreme Court Issues Contempt Notice to Punjab Chief Secretary Over 30-Year-Old Pension Scheme

Supreme Court Issues Contempt Notice to Punjab Chief Secretary

NEW DELHI: In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Punjab, K A P Sinha, regarding the failure to implement a pensionary benefits scheme that has been pending for over three decades. This move comes after the state government repeatedly assured the Punjab High Court of compliance but failed to take necessary actions.

Background of the Case

The Punjab Privately Managed Affiliated and Punjab Government Aided Colleges Pensionary Benefits Scheme, 1996, was intended to provide crucial retirement benefits to eligible employees. Despite multiple undertakings from the state government to implement the scheme, no tangible progress has been made.

Supreme Court’s Stance

During the proceedings, Justices Abhay Oka and N Kotiswar Singh emphasized the importance of accountability among government officials. “Officers need to be given a signal that they cannot take the court for a ride,” stated the bench. The court’s firm stance indicates that non-compliance will be met with serious consequences, including potential contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

Next Steps

Punjab’s advocate general, Gurminder Singh, assured the court that the state would take necessary actions before the next hearing date. However, the Chief Secretary has been called upon to explain why these contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of adherence to legal commitments by government officials. As the situation develops, those interested in staying updated on current affairs can visit looffers.com for the latest news and offers.

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