Aviation ministry slammed for withholding pension

NHRC recently ordered it “to immediately make payment of provisional pension to these retired employees because it is a matter of violation of their rights to life under Article 21 of Constitution of India”.

The DOP&PW, a constitutional body under the PMO, has also alleged that the ministry was disregarding its advice and denying pension to its employees.

HT had reported on August 17 that 700 civil aviation employees were deprived retirement bene- fits by ministry because of various reasons, including wrong interpretation of labour laws.

There are 1,600 more people working in this government sector who were unsure if they will get benefits when they retire.

The employees had joined the National Airport Authority, the Airport Authority of India’s (AAI) predecessor, in 1986 on deputation from the civil aviation department and the director general of civil aviation (DGCA). In 1989, they became permanent employees of the NAA, and were absorbed in the new entity when NAA became AAI in 1995.

Employees alleged that on August 14, 1995, the AAI issued an illegal office memorandum which made them ineligible for pension.

The civil aviation ministry admitted its mistake in 2016 and said that it would decide the “financial impact” and “modalities of disbursal”.

The NHRC held that the process of deciding modalities is a time consuming process and employees should not be left waiting in such circumstances.

“The secretary, MOCA should finalise the modalities urgently and make payment of regular pension and pensionary benefit to these employees not later than six months,” directed the NHRC.

Ministry’s secretary RN didn’t offer any comment, however, employees and widows waiting for pensions allege that even after the NHRC direction, the ministry wasn’t keen to extend benefits.