Pension is constitutional right, cannot be withheld indefinitely

Patna, Sep 28 (UNI) The Patna High Court has held that pension benefits of a retired government employee cannot be withheld indefinitely through prolonged departmental proceedings and observed that pension constitutes a right to property protected under Article 300-A of the Constitution. The ruling came in the case of retired Assistant Engineer Mahendra Ram of the Bihar Water Resources Department, whose retirement benefits remained partly withheld for years following disciplinary proceedings relating to an alleged illegal withdrawal of Rs 48,000. Justice Purnendu Singh, while hearing the matter, took serious note of the prolonged delay in concluding the departmental proceedings and…