Delhi HC Issues Notice On Plea Filed By Widow Of CISF Employee Who Disappeared 13 Years Ago

Delhi High Court has issued a notice on the plea filed by the wife of a CISF employee, who went missing in 2009. The wife has filed a writ petition seeking directions to the respondents to grant her family pension and to pay the remaining death gratuity amount which has been pending for thirteen years, along with interest.

A Bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Navin Chawla heard the plea which also alleges that the investigation into the matter has not been completed for 13 years.

Advocate Kartikey Lal Rastogi appeared for the petitioners and argued that the respondents have been passing the buck among themselves and no action has been taken for 13 years and the family is suffering on account of the lethargy of the respondents.

The plea states that Ct Mahendra Singh joined the CISF in 1987 and was posted in Assam (in a disturbed area) as per the Govt of India. He was on casual leave in 2008 did not report back thereafter due to illness. On January 29, 2009, he left to report back to his place of duty ie CISF Unit, ONGC Nazira and thereafter petitioner received a call from traumatized and terrified Ct Mahendra Singh, nothing was communicated and he was never to be heard of ever again.

The petitioner informed the CISF unit, ONGC Nazaria regarding the sudden disappearance and even lodged an FIR at Guhawati, GRP railway Station, but to no avail.

The petition further states that pension in case of death or disablement in government service is granted as per the Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules and according to the rules, the pension will be awarded at 50% of the last drawn salary. According to the petitioner, the same was not adhered to in the present case.