Mitali Palnitkar
Published on: March 14, 2022 at 18:23 IST
The Supreme Court criticized the Policy of Kerala Government to grant Life-long Pension to the personal staff of Ministers.
The Bench comprising Justices Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari refused to entertain the Writ Petition by Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) challenging the decisions of Oil Marketing Companies owned by the State in relation to increase in Fuel prices sold to Bulk Purchasers.
It observed, “You are the only State where persons are only appointed by Minister for 2 years and give them a Life-long Pension. Please tell your State, if they can do that, why can’t they do this?”
The Plea sought direction to Union of India to constitute an Independent Statutory Regulatory Authority for ensuring Protection of Interest of Consumers.
The Relief for directing the Centre to notify Petroleum and its products, and Natural Gas under Section 11(f) read with Section 2(zc) of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006 was sought. Further, relief for directing the Centre to ensure Legal Protection to Indian Consumers was also sought.
Senior Advocate VV Giri representing the Corporation submitted that Differential Price was being Charged above the Market Rate. Despite there is an Agreement, there is a difference of Rs 7 per Litre.
Justice Nazeer refused to entertain the Petition and asked the Corporation to approach the Kerala High Court.
It was also noted that a Public Interest Litigation challenging the manner of Appointment of Personal staff to Ministers and the Pension benefits given to them, was pending before the High Court.
Since April 1984, the personal staff gets Pension Benefits. It was decided that 25 individuals can be Appointed as Personal staff of Minister, Leader of Opposition, Chief Whip, and Chief Minister to the tune of 35 persons.
In the Petition, it is Alleged that the minimum pension is Rs 3,550 which can be availed by the person after two and a half years of Service; he will receive the amount for rest of his life along with 7% DA and gratuity. The maximum Pension is Rs 83,400 which is the same as Government employees.
The Petition was with respect to the Fuel Price hike. The Petitioner argued that decision to increase oil prices was ‘Manifestly Discriminatory, Arbitrary and Unreasonable’.
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