03-05-2025
HC attaches Punjabi varsity registrar's salary over delayed retirement benefits
Patiala: The
Punjab and Haryana high court
has attached the entire salary of
Punjabi University
's registrar, following the non-compliance with the court's orders by the university administration. The administration allegedly delayed releasing rightful
retirement benefits
, including gratuity, leave encashment, furlough leave, and commutation of pensions for retired faculty members of Punjabi University, Patiala. The university registrar, will have his salary attached until the next hearing on July 16 this year.
Notably, the 55 retirees, who served the university and retired after Jan 1, 2016, won a
legal battle
in Dec 2024 when the high court directed the university to disburse their revised retirement benefits by Dec 15, 2024. However, the university failed to comply, forcing the pensioners to file a contempt petition in Feb 2025. In an interim order on April 1 this year, the high court attached one-third of the registrar's salary for non-compliance. Despite this, the university continued to delay payments, prompting the court to take stricter action. On April 30 this year, the court modified its earlier order and attached the registrar's entire salary, citing the university's failure to adhere to the payment schedule.
Jagbir Singh, chairman of the Joint Action Committee for Pensioners and secretary general of the Punjabi University Retired Teachers Association (Purta), alleged that the university deposited a token amount of Rs 1 lakh into the retirees' accounts on April 29 — just hours before the case was listed for hearing. "This was a blatant attempt to mislead the court into believing that the university was complying with the orders," said Singh. "The university plans to pay the remaining Rs 9 lakh in instalments, which is illegal. Gratuity cannot be paid in instalments under the law."
The retirees accuse the university administration of selectively releasing benefits to recently retired "favourites" while ignoring their legitimate claims. In a letter to the vice chancellor, Purta highlighted the university's "sheer wastage of public money" through unnecessary litigation and frivolous applications filed in court. "The registrar and DCLA signed payment papers on a university holiday just to create a false impression of compliance," Jagbir Singh added. "This is harassment of senior citizens who served the institution for decades."
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Despite repeated attempts, university registrar Sanjiv Puri could not be contacted for an official statement.
The case will now be heard on July 16, 2025, with the registrar's salary remaining attached until then. The retirees have vowed to continue their fight for justice, demanding full payment of their dues without further delay.
**BOX:**
December 2024: High Court orders Punjabi University to pay revised retirement benefits by December 15.
February 2025: Retirees file contempt petition after non-compliance.
April 1, 2025: Court attaches one-third of Registrar's salary.
April 29, 2025: University deposits Rs 1 lakh in retirees' accounts hours before hearing.
April 30, 2025: High Court attaches Registrar's full salary, modifies order. MSID:: 120853072 413 |
