Orissa High Court “reluctantly” granted the state government until May 21 to submit a progress report regarding pension benefits for employees of non-government aided educational institutions. 

A division bench comprising Justices Krishna S Dixit and Chittaranjan Dash warned that punitive action could follow if lapses are found on the part of the high-power panel members, whose names must also be disclosed, as reported by Times Of India.

Legal Origins And State Stand

The dispute involves teaching and non-teaching staff across various institutions, including colleges, high schools, Sanskrit tolls, and junior basic schools. They moved the court after being denied pensionary benefits under the Odisha Aided Educational Institutions’ Employees’ Retirement Benefit Rules, 1981. 

While the state argued that only individuals under the “Direct Payment System” qualify under Rule 3, a single-judge bench ruled on January 12, 2024, that staff receiving grants-in-aid from 2004 onwards are entitled to retiral benefits, ordering compliance within three months.

Appellate Proceedings and Adjournments

The state subsequently challenged this order through a writ appeal. During the May 14 hearing, state counsel S B Mohanty requested an adjournment until after the summer vacation, which was strongly opposed by defense counsel Purushottam Chuli. 

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The bench recalled its February 17 order, where Advocate General Pitambar Acharya was granted eight weeks for the retired chief secretary-led panel to examine grievances. The matter now rests on the fast-approaching May 21 deadline.