Telangana HC directs state to decide on retired doctor’s pension case in 8 weeks
The ruling was delivered in a Writ Petition filed by Dr Suresh Kumar, who has been fighting for the release of his full pension and gratuity since his retirement in 2006.
By - Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: In a significant direction aimed at resolving a 17-year-long battle for pensionary benefits, the Telangana High Court on Friday has directed the State Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare to dispose of the representation of an 80-year-old retired Assistant Civil Surgeon, Dr M Suresh Kumar, within a strict eight-week deadline.
The ruling was delivered in a Writ Petition filed by Dr Suresh Kumar, who has been fighting for the release of his full pension and gratuity since his retirement in 2006.
The presiding judge, Justice Namavarapu Rajeshwar Rao, has directed the petitioner to submit a fresh representation to the department within two weeks from the date of the order. Crucially, the court imposed a mandatory timeline for the respondents, the Principal Secretary of Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department, and others to dispose of the representation within eight weeks thereafter.
What is the dispute about?
The dispute is that Dr M. Suresh Kumar, who retired as an Assistant Civil Surgeon on November 30, 2006, faced a criminal case registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2001. He was initially convicted by a trial court on May 2, 2007.
Based solely on this conviction, the State Government issued GO 142 on February 4, 2008, imposing a severe punishment of a 100 per cent cut in pension and permanent withholding of his gratuity amount of Rs 1,35,788.
However, the foundation of this punitive action was shattered when the Telangana High Court, in a judgment dated July 22, 2024 (Criminal Appeal No. 543 of 2007), acquitted Dr Kumar of all charges. The High Court categorically held that the prosecution had failed to prove the demand and acceptance of the alleged bribe.
Despite the judicial acquittal clearing his name, the petitioner contended that the department continued to act upon the decade-old GO, arbitrarily withholding his final retirement benefits, leading to severe financial distress.
In his writ petition, the octogenarian doctor sought a Writ of Mandamus to set aside the 2008 GO and directed the respondents to forthwith release his full pension with arrears from December 1, 2006, along with the gratuity amount and restoration of other post-retirement entitlements, including medical reimbursement.
The High Court’s latest ruling, while not directly granting the benefits, ensures a time-bound and mandatory resolution from the department, bringing a potential end to the retired surgeon's protracted legal and financial hardship.
