Verify eligible persons for Old Age Pension in 3 months: HC to Govt

Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench has directed the State government to complete verification of eligible persons for Old Age Pension in the State within three months (wef September 14) and send the proposal to the ministry concerned so that the eligible persons could get the benefit at the earliest.
A two-bench judge of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema also ruled that while doing so, the government should also include names of 198 persons identified by the petitioner if they were eligible for the benefit. This followed a petition filed by one Kheto Thorie, permanent resident of Kigwema village.
At the hearing, the court was informed by the Social Welfare department that a verification was being conducted throughout the State and that the verification would be completed in three months. While listing the matter again after three months, the bench ordered that the learned counsels appearing for the respondents should submit an affidavit of compliance on the next date.