Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has recommended that the Pernem Municipal Council, in coordination with the Directorate of Municipal Administration, settle pending pension payments to retired employees within 30 days, along with interest at 8 per cent per annum.
In its latest findings, the Commission highlighted concerns over recurring delays in pension disbursement and called for corrective measures to ensure that retired employees receive their dues without having to pursue repeated complaints.
The recommendations cover pension payments pending for February to September 2026. The Commission has proposed that interest be calculated from the dates on which the respective payments became due until the outstanding amounts are cleared.
To prevent further delays, the GHRC has also called for a structured payment arrangement under which pensions are credited during the final four working days of each month.
The matter came before the Commission following a complaint by three former municipal employees, Madan Desai, Shakuntala Parab and the widow of lower division clerk Sangeet Patekar, who raised concerns over unpaid pension benefits.
During the proceedings, the Pernem Municipal Council cited financial difficulties and said its present resources were insufficient to clear the entire backlog immediately. It sought three months to make the payments and requested financial assistance of Rs 13.83 lakh from the Directorate of Municipal Administration.
The Commission also referred to its earlier intervention in a similar matter involving retired civic employees and a pensioner’s widow who had reportedly faced a prolonged wait for their dues. In an earlier report dated April 17, the GHRC had recommended that 21 months of pending pensions be paid within 60 days, with 8 per cent interest.
However, the Commission observed that the payments had subsequently been cleared only up to January 2026, leaving further arrears outstanding.
Emphasising the importance of pension payments, the Commission referred to the Supreme Court’s position that pension is a legally protected entitlement and cannot be treated as a discretionary benefit.
The concerned authorities have been asked to submit details of the steps taken or proposed in response to the recommendations by November 13.
The Commission’s intervention seeks to ensure that pension obligations are met within a reasonable timeframe and that retired municipal employees are not subjected to repeated financial uncertainty because of administrative delays.
