PU PENSIONERS EXPRESS ANGER OVER PENDING ARREARS OF REVISED PAY SCALES AND LTC PAYMENTS

Face2News/Chandigarh:

The Panjab University Pensioners Welfare Association has accused the university administration of ignoring the long-pending demands of pensioners.

Association President Tilak Raj Wadhwa stated that while the arrears of revised pay scales effective from January 1, 2016, were released to serving teaching and non-teaching employees in March 2025, pensioners have yet to receive their due arrears.

Describing the situation as a clear case of discriminatory treatment towards pensioners, Wadhwa said that several letters and emails had been sent to the Vice-Chancellor regarding the matter, but no response has been received so far. He added that the continued delay has caused widespread dissatisfaction among pensioners.

According to the Association, Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for the periods 2016–18, 2018–20, and 2020–22 was paid on the basis of the old pay scales, despite all pensioners having already been granted the benefit of revised pay scales. Furthermore, LTC payments for the 2022–24 period are still pending. Pensioners are entitled to receive LTC equivalent to one month’s basic pension for each two-year block period.

The Pensioners Welfare Association stated that more than 3,000 pensioners of Punjab University have been affected by these pending payments. The Association also alleged that there is no functional grievance redressal cell in the university to address pensioners’ concerns, whereas dedicated pension grievance mechanisms exist in other government departments.

Tilak Raj Wadhwa said that the attitude of the university administration towards pensioners has been authoritarian, uncooperative, and insensitive. He warned that if their grievances are not resolved at the earliest, pensioners will have no option but to seek intervention from higher authorities and obtain legal advice.

The Association has demanded that the university administration immediately release the pending arrears and LTC payments and establish a dedicated grievance redressal cell for pensioners.