New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Personnel, Dr. Jitendra Singh, chaired the 14th Pension Adalat at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on Wednesday.
Organised by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) under the theme “Family Pensioners & Super Senior Pensioners”, the Adalat addressed 894 chronic and long-pending family pension grievances from 21 Ministries and Departments.
Launching the programme, Dr. Singh praised the initiative’s “whole-of-government approach” that brings all concerned Ministries, Departments, and agencies onto one platform. He noted that the Adalat has expedited grievance resolution, reduced delays, and provided timely justice to pensioners who had been awaiting their rightful dues for years.
The Minister underlined that pensioners are not merely beneficiaries but active contributors to society who deserve dignity and financial security in their advancing years. The 14th Pension Adalat provided relief to hundreds of families, with several notable cases resolved:
Hony. Lt. Balveer Singh (Punjab Regiment): Retired on April 30, 2024, from Jammu. After processing delays, he received disability and commutation pension of ₹46,04,537.
Lt. Col. Partap Chand Sood: Retired on August 31, 1994, but had not received pension arrears due from January 1, 2006. His case was cleared, and arrears of ₹18,89,331 were released.
Smt. Champa Rautela (84): Widow of late Ex-Constable Narayan Singh (BSF), who died on February 26, 2014. She had not received any family pension since his demise. Her case was finally settled with dues of ₹15 lakh.
These outcomes highlight not just financial settlements but also the restoration of dignity, justice, and relief for pensioners and their families.
Most of the grievances addressed belonged to the Defence, Railways, and Home Affairs sectors. Reviewing past Adalats, Dr. Singh informed that up to the 13th Pension Adalat (June 2025), 25,831 cases had been taken up, of which 18,481 were successfully resolved.
He stressed that Pension Adalats are not merely grievance-redressal forums but mechanisms of justice delivery, particularly for widows, super senior citizens, and family pensioners. He further called for:
- Setting up Grievance Help Desks in every Ministry/Department.
- Strengthening digital grievance monitoring systems to prevent future delays.
The 14th Pension Adalat demonstrated the government’s commitment to resolving even the oldest and most complex cases. By ensuring arrears worth lakhs were released, it restored trust in the system and underscored the government’s sensitivity towards pensioners.
Dr. Singh concluded, “Each case resolved is not just about money, but about dignity, respect, and justice for those who served the nation or supported their families in service to the nation.”
