Srinagar, Dec 14: The authorities at the helm of the affairs are not expected to delay the payment of family pension to the next kin and kith, the High Court observed on Monday even as it asked Secretary Ministry of Finance Department to examine the approach adopted in the matters pertaining to the family pension of the employees.

The direction was passed by a bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey while hearing a contempt petition in which the court on October 6 had directed the Accountant General to finalize the family pension case of the petitioner— Shama Agha— in terms of the judgment passed by it regarding implementation of judgment seeking release of family pension,

The Accountant General filed statement of facts in compliance to the court’s October 6 order, mentioning that Shama’s case for payment of family pension has been taken up with the Senior Accounts Officer (AIS), Central Pension Accounting Office New Delhi.

The statement of facts reveals that the matter has been forwarded for payment of family pension to the office of India Audit and Accounts Department, the court observed.

“Ordinarily, authorities at the helm of the affairs, are not expected to delay the payment of family pension to the next kin and kith, who has served the Government for considerable time,” the court said as per GNS, adding, “The Court feels it necessary that while seeking response from the Accountant General, qua payment of family pension to the petitioner, a copy of the Judgment out of which the instant contempt petition has arisen along with copies of orders passed in the contempt petition from 10.03.2020 till date be send to Secretary to Ministry of Finance Department, Government of India for examining the approach adopted in the matters pertaining to the family pension of the employees.”

Need to send the copy of judgment and orders has arisen to update the Secretary to Ministry of Finance Department for taking an overall view in these matters, the court said. It also granted ten days’ time to Accountant General to file compliance, ensuring payment of family pension to the petitioner, failing which he shall appear in person on the next date of hearing on December 31. (GNS)