Retirement benefits yet to be paid, HPAU pensioners face hardship
Retired employees of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University are facing financial hardship due to the prolonged non-payment of retirement benefits, medical reimbursement claims and lifetime arrears of deceased pensioners, the HPAU Pensioners’ Sabha said during a press conference held on Saturday.
Addressing mediapersons, the president of the Sabha, Dr SP Sharma, accompanied by members of the executive body, expressed concern over the deteriorating financial condition of pensioners and their families. He said several dependents of deceased pensioners were still awaiting payment of long-pending dues, while critically ill retirees were suffering because their medical reimbursement claims had not been cleared for years.
According to the Sabha, medical claims of many pensioners have remained pending since 2022.
Dr Sharma said employees who retired during the past four years had yet to receive leave encashment and commutation benefits, placing many families under severe economic stress. He alleged benefits granted by the state government to state pensioners, including pension allowance on revised pensions, had not been extended to university retirees.
Expressing disappointment over the alleged administrative apathy, Dr Sharma said directions issued by the Himachal Pradesh High Court in nearly 80 leave encashment cases had not been implemented, forcing pensioners to file execution petitions for compliance.
He said that despite dedicating the prime years of their lives to the service of the university, pensioners had been neglected by both the university administration and the state government.
The Sabha claimed the university currently has financial liabilities of nearly Rs 90 crore payable to pensioners. It urged the state government to release a special enhanced financial grant to the university to ensure immediate clearance of pending dues.
The executive body has also submitted memorandums to the Governor of Himachal Pradesh and local MLA Ashish Butail seeking urgent intervention to resolve the pensioners’ grievances.
