After 46-year wait, 91-year-old Odisha woman to get pension following HC's intervention

A 91-year-old woman, Hara Sahu from Kandarpur village under Kendrapara’s Derabisi block, will finally be able to receive a pension after 46 years of her husband’s death.

The case came to the fore after the Orissa High Court directed the Odisha government to pay her pension including arrears since the death of her husband.

As per reports, Hara’s husband Benudhara Sahu, who worked as an associate teacher at Duhuria school in Kendrapara died in 1977. Hara has since then been running from pillar to post with his only son to get a family pension from the State government.

But an inordinate delay by the government to sanction her family pension forced her to move to the court. The Orissa High Court, after verifying all the relevant documents ruled that Hara is eligible for the pension of her husband. The court also ordered the department to disburse her pension with arrears and relevant interest.

“It has been more than 40 years since my husband died, but I never received his pension. I am happy that I will finally get it after so many years,” said Hara Sahu.

As per Rule 73 (1) of Odisha Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1992 family pension should be sanctioned by the pension sanctioning authority/ appointing authority within one month from the date of death of the government servant.

Orissa High Court, in a 1999 order had instructed the Odisha PG & PA Department to recover interest at 18% per annum from the person/ persons responsible for delay in payment of pension.