Supreme Court Rejects MP Govt's Plea, Upholds 20% Extra Pension for 80-Year-Olds

Supreme Court Upholds Additional Pension for Senior Pensioners

Pensioners in Madhya Pradesh aged 80 and above have received significant relief as the Supreme Court dismissed the state government's review petition. This decision reinstates the Gwalior High Court's earlier order mandating a 20% additional pension upon reaching the age of 80, applicable from the date of entry into that age bracket.

The Pensioners Welfare Association has lauded the verdict and urged the state government to issue immediate orders to ensure this benefit is applied uniformly to all eligible pensioners. This move comes after the state government's attempts to challenge the High Court's ruling were unsuccessful.

Legal Journey of the Pensioners' Claim

State president of the Pensioners Welfare Association, Amod Saxena, explained that the Gwalior High Court had initially ordered the 20% additional pension for pensioners turning 80 in response to a writ petition. The Madhya Pradesh government subsequently filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP(C) 2414/2024) in the Supreme Court, which was dismissed on September 17, 2024.

Following this, the state government filed another review petition (Review Petition Diary No.59076/2024), which was also rejected by the Supreme Court on March 20, 2025. These repeated rejections by the apex court solidify the original High Court decision.

Judicial Resolution Affirms Pensioners' Rights

Ganesh Dutt Joshi, patron of the association, stated that with both of the state government's petitions being dismissed, the Gwalior High Court's original ruling (Writ Petition No. 7424/2022) is now fully operational. He emphasized that the judicial resolution of the dispute should prevent elderly pensioners from being forced to seek legal recourse repeatedly for their rightful entitlements.

The association believes the government should apply this decision uniformly to all eligible pensioners rather than compelling individuals to approach the courts for justice. This approach would ensure a more equitable and timely disbursement of the benefit.

Call for Immediate Implementation

Suresh Sharma, Bhopal district president, hailed the Supreme Court's decision as a major victory for pensioners. He appealed to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department to expedite the process and issue necessary orders without delay, ensuring that pensioners receive their due benefits promptly.

The association's vice presidents Santosh Thakur and Shailendra Srivastava, secretary Ramgopal Mathur, joint secretary Shakuntala Verma, and executive members Sangeeta Srivastava and Anil Pandey echoed these sentiments. They urged the government to respect the Supreme Court's verdict and process arrears for all previously deprived pensioners within a stipulated timeframe.