Deplorable state of affairs: HC on pending ex gratia payments

Terming three years' delay in payment of ex gratia to the kin of government employees who died during panchayat poll duty in April 2021 "deplorable state of affairs", the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Wednesday again directed the additional chief secretary, Panchayat Raj, to give a pointwise detailed reply in a personal affidavit giving reason for delay in payment of compensation.

- Pawan Dixit

LUCKNOW:

The single-judge bench of Justice Abdul Moin said on perusal of the personal affidavit filed by the additional chief secretary, Panchayat Raj, it was clear that an attempt was being made to pass the buck.

The court was referring to the personal affidavit filed by the additional chief secretary on the issue of delay in payment of ex gratia of Rs 30 lakh.

"The state government will take a decision as per rules regarding payment of ex gratia amount within three weeks," assured the additional CS in the affidavit filed on Wednesday.

"This court had expressed its concern regarding the pendency of various cases pertaining to ex-gratia amounts. Some alacrity should have been shown by the State Government," the court said.

"But again the buck is sought to be shifted from one desk to the other and a never-ending process of 'three weeks' without indicating as to when those three weeks would start," the court said.