Balasore: The Orissa High Court has expressed its regret as a woman had to wait for 52 years after the death of her husband to receive the pension money. At the age of 89, she received a provisional pension of Rs 16 lakh.
Lalita Mohanty of Arad Bazar in Balasore district had lost her husband Bhimsen Mohanty at the age of 37. He was working in the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC). After his demise, Lalita did not get any pension from OSRTC.
She struggled for it all her life and ran her family amid a lot of suffering. After a long legal battle to get the family pension, Lalita finally got justice. It has taken nine years to implement the previous order of the court.
After the order of the High Court, Lalita received a provisional pension of 16 lakh rupees. Four officers along with the Under Secretary of OSRTC came to her house and provided the cheque.
The High Court expressed its regret because of the delay. Referring to an order of the Supreme Court, the High Court said – pension is not a favour. The High Court said that it will make all efforts so that not a single beneficiary in the state is deprived of getting a pension. It ordered to determine the policy for provisional pension.
