Can't deny medical reimbursement to retirees by citing financial distress: HC

A public corporation cannot evade its obligation to reimburse medical expenses to its retired staff by pleading financial distress, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held, while striking down orders denying post-retirement medical benefits.

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The Bench made it clear that rejection of medical reimbursement claim under such circumstances was not only arbitrary, but also unreasonable. "This Court cannot lose sight of the fact that a public body cannot shrug off its responsibility to extend the medical reimbursement benefits to its retired employees by simply citing financial difficulties. The corporation concerned availed the services of these employees during the prime and youthful years of their lives. After retirement, when age-related health problems begin, these employees need medical care and reimbursement the most. To deny medical reimbursement, at this stage, is wholly arbitrary and unreasonable," Justice Harpreet Singh Brar asserted. The ruling came in a case where retired employees were seeking directions to Haryana and other responden