Kochi: The High Court on Thursday severely criticized the government for not paying the widow pension to Mariyakutty. Justice Devan Ramachandran clarified that the pension should be paid otherwise the government should bear the cost of Mariyakutty for three months, the court said.
The High Court observed that a 78-year-old woman has approached the court because of not receiving her pension. She has no other income. The government has money to spend on other things. The High Court said that if the government can’t pay her pension, then at least pay the cost of medicine and food. The court also asked who other than the government will solve the problem of the petitioner, who is a senior citizen. The court also noted that she is requesting only Rs. 1,600. The court also asked why people like the petitioner were not given priority.
The government told the court that they suspended the pension due to financial crisis and mentioned not receiving the central share. However, the court doubted the government’s reasoning behind the financial crisis. They questioned whether the government had canceled any events due to a lack of funds and pointed out that if the government could spend money on the Nava Kerala Sadas, they shouldn’t claim to lack funds to pay pensions. The court emphasized the importance of paying the pension.
The HC added that Mariyakutty is a VIP who has come before the court because she has no other way to live. Justice Devan Ramachandran said that this is how the court considers it. The High Court said that it has to stand with the citizen. Rs 1,600 may be nothing for the government but it is a huge amount for Mariyakutty. The government has been asked to inform of its decision tomorrow regarding the payment of widow pension to Mariyakutty.
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