KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has ordered KSEB to refund the amount deducted from a former employee’s pension towards Vaccine challenge without his consent.
Vaccine challenge was started in Kerala when states were made responsible for procuring vaccines for most of the citizens and the cost of two doses of vaccines, amounting to Rs 800, was exhorted to be donated to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to enable free vaccination for all.
Justice Devan Ramachandran issued the order after considering a petition (WP-C No. 11999/2021) filed by a 73-year-old man through advocate PC Haridas.
An order issued by KSEB sanctioning forcible deduction of amounts from pensions of former employees was challenged by the petitioner. KSEB’s counsel submitted that the order is not intended for forceful deduction and that it was issued on the basis of the agreement with an association of pensioners that its members are willing to contribute one day’s pension to the Vaccine challenge.
In such circumstances, KSEB’s order should not be set aside by the court. If the petitioner does not agree to the contribution, the money will be returned, KSEB’s counsel submitted.
While any contribution to CMDRF requires full volition of the contributor, the KSEB’s order does not require consent of the pensioner, the court said while stating that such an order does not deserve the court’s approval. The court ordered KSEB to refund the amount deducted within two weeks.
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