High Court’s major decision: Children born from a second marriage will also receive full pension benefits.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a significant order, clarified that the rights of children are protected in the distribution of pension and retirement benefits after the death of a government employee, even if the case relates to a second marriage.
Justice Harpreet Singh Brar directed the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited to release the full pension and retirement benefits of deceased employee Rakesh Kumar to his children from his second marriage within three months. This order came on a petition filed by Abhishek Dutta and his sister, who challenged the PSPCL’s decision to withhold 50 percent of their father’s pension and gratuity. Rakesh Kumar, an assistant lineman, died in May 2013. The corporation withheld the remaining benefits because the existence of Rakesh Kumar’s first wife, Meena, was cited.
