Pensioners not required to visit bank or office to receive pension: State government tells Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka government informed the Karnataka High Court that no pensioner, who receives pension from State government, is required to visit any bank or office for receiving pension..The State government informed this to a Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj, which was subsequently recorded by the Court in its order.The Court then directed the State to file a specific affidavit highlighting the aforesaid decision along with details of how pension will be given to pensioners. This apart, the State government was asked to take a stand in line with the Supreme Court decision in Ashwini Kumar vs union of India.In the said case, the apex court had directed that all old age people who are eligible for pension should be regularly paid pension and those identified older people should be provided necessary medicines, masks, sanitizers and other essential goods by respective States..Are senior citizens entitled to receive pension without stepping out of their homes? Karnataka High Court seeks clarification.The Court was hearing a plea seeking an increase in old age pension for senior citizens in the State, as per the directions of the Supreme Court. The Court had issued notice in the matter back in October, 2020.The plea sought protection to the life and dignity of senior citizens by identifying their needs, conducting health camps, facilitating their access to healthcare and medication, as well as securing their right to food, pension, and social security.In a previous hearing, the Court had sought a clarification from the State government on whether senior citizens are entitled to receive pension at their places of residence.When the matter was taken up for hearing today, the Court observed,“You must specifically say what you are doing for those (senior citizens) who cannot visit banks or post offices (for collecting pension).”Petitioner Advocate Clifton D Rozario submitted that for those who cannot go to banks or post offices, pension will have to be given at their homes.At this juncture, the State said that no pensioner is asked to come to any office.“Therefore, according to you, no pensioner is not required to go to any office…?”, asked the Court, to which the State replied in the affirmative.The State government further clarified that during the COVID-19 lockdown, it had never insisted for a 'life certificate' from any of the eligible senior citizens. The matter will be heard again on July 28