Ranjit Singh v. State Of Punjab And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : 01.07.2026 RANJIT SINGH .....Petitioner

VERSUS

STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS .....Respondents

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present :

Mr. Rahul Arora, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Sahil R. Bakshi, AAG, Punjab.

KULDEEP TIWARI, J.(Oral) 1.

Through the instant petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, a prayer is made for issuance of a direction upon the respondents to release the arrears of pension to the petitioner which is due, w.e.f. December, 2024, and also for releasing the monthly pension thereafter.

2.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner retired on attaining the age of superannuation on 31.12.1997, and has been receiving pension ever since, and subsequently, in 1998, the petitioner went abroad. Earlier, the pension amount was being directly credited to his bank account, however, since December 2024, the pension amount has not been credited to the petitioner's bank account.

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He further submits that the pension was, in all probability, withheld by the bank for want of a Life Certificate. He submits that the requisite Life Certificate has now been furnished, and, despite that, the petitioner's pension has not been released to petitioner's bank account. He also submits that that the respondents no.5 to 7-bank is only a custodian of the pension amount, and cannot withheld the same. 4.

He also submits that, with regard to the aforesaid grievance, the petitioner has also served a legal notice dated 18.03.2026 (Annexure P-7) upon the respondents. However, the same is still pending consideration, and no final decision has been taken thereon by the competent authority.

5.

He also states that at this stage, he would limit his prayer, only to the extent of issuance of a mandamus upon the respondents no.5 to 7-bank, to consider and decide the aforesaid legal notice dated 18.03.2026 in a time-bound manner.

6.

In view of the above, and considering the prayer, as made by learned counsel for the petitioners, being innocuous and bona fide, this Court, without observing anything on merits of the instant case, directs respondents no.5 to 7-Bank, to take a final decision on the legal notice (supra), by passing a speaking order, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. 7.

In case the legal notice (supra), is not decided within the stipulated time period, the petitioner would be at liberty to get revive the instant petition, by filing an apposite application.

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Disposed of accordingly.

9.

All pending application(s), if any, also stand disposed of accordingly.

(KULDEEP TIWARI) July 01, 2026 JUDGE dharamvir Whether speaking/reasoned.

:

Yes/No Whether Reportable.

:

Yes/No