A 99 year-old pensioner Ghulam Hassan of Srinagar presently bed ridden counting his days at a Srinagar hospital’s Intensive Care Ward, was given a serious shock by Treasury Officer,
Saddar Treasury Srinagar by working out a recovery of an amount of Rs. 4,43,504 against his family pension drawn by him through JK Bank Residency Road vide PPO No.: 24870-F, simply due to misunderstanding and misinterpretation of SRO: 138 dated: 25.4..2016.
The SRO was issued by the then BJP/PDP Government in good faith to provide some additional relief to old age pensioners and family pensioners as well having attained the age of 80 years or above
(mostly ailing & bed ridden). The facility of availing the additional quantum was permissible to be availed by both pensioners and family pensioners as well.
The above named pensioner also under the approval of the then Treasury Officer Saddar Treasury Srinagar remained to enjoy the facility of additional quantum of pension against his family pension upto 8/2021
when it was objected rather challenged by the present Treasury Officer Saddar Treasury Srinagar on the plea that a family pensioner is not entitled to avail this facility even if he/she has the requisite age
if the original pensioner is dead.
In his opinion the original pensioner should be alive ignoring the fact that a family pensioner comes into existence or takes the birth only when a particular pensioner is dead.
The irony of the situation is that his idea/opinion is seconded by a Senior Accounts Officer of Director Accounts and Treasuries. Mushtaq Parray also.
Consequently the case was brought to the notice of LG on 22.9.2021 followed by reminders, his grievance cell vide No.: 999002390797 dt.: 22.9.2021, No.: 999002439090 dt.: 12.10.2021 & No.: 999002504427 dt.
9.11.2021, Commissioner Secretary Finance Department, Director Codes Finance Department, Director Accounts & Treasuries Haft Chinar Srinagar on 22.9.2021 followed by the reminder on 12.10.2021 and
finally the Financial Commissioner, Finance Department respected Atul Dullo on 8.11.2021.
“But because of the misfortune of the bed ridden and ill fated pensioner,” he also paid deaf ear to his sufferings beyond one's expectations/imagination.
Lastly the case has been brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary to Government U.T. of J&K on 29.11.2021. It may not be out of place to mention that the said SRO is very much clear, self explanatory &
without any ambiguity or doubt as far as its application part is concerned but unfortunately has been misunderstood & subsequently misinterpreted and so the recovery quite against the spirit of the
said S.R.O. against the family pensioner named above.
Despite the lapse of more than two months nothing seems to have materialized in favour or against the pensioner simply because he has no access or political background to get his genuine grievance
redressed exposing the Government's claim to provide a speedy and transparent redressal of the grievances of the general public.