Widow sought release of her late husband's service and retiral dues including family pension; his service book was seized by police. Court directed reconstruction of the service book and release of all admissible dues within 90 days.
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CGHC010087582023
2026:CGHC:28053
NAFR
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
WPS No. 1957 of 2023
Smt. Meera Singh Kanwar W/o Dhannu Singh Kanwar Aged About 62 Years R/o House No. 58, Dhamtarai, Sarkanda, P.O. District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh
... Petitioner
versus
1 - The State Of Chhattisgarh Through Its Secretary, Public Works Department, Secretariat, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Naya Raipur District Raipur Chhattisgarh
2 - The Chief Engineer Public Works Department, Bilaspur District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh
3 - Sub Divisional Officer Public Works Department, Sakti, District Sakti Chhattisgarh
... Respondents For Petitioner : Dr. Veena Nair, Advocate For Respondents/State : Mr. Anish Tiwari, Dy. Govt. Advocate
(Hon’ble Shri Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi) Order on Board 07.07.2026
1. This petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, has been preferred by the petitioner seeking a direction to the respondents to release and pay all service and retiral dues, including family pension, payable in respect of the petitioner’s late husband, namely, Dhannu Singh Kanwar.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that late Dannu Singh Kanwar was the husband of the petitioner and he died on 11.9.2020. In the year 1990 Dannu Singh Kanwar was appointed to the post of Time
Digitally signed by BINI BINI PRADEEP PRADEEP Date: 2026.07.08 14:52:50 +0530
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Keeper/Field Assistant in Public Works Department, Bilaspur. After serving for about two years at Bilaspur, he was transferred to the PWD Sub-Division, Sakti, District Bilaspur. It is further submitted that Dhannu Singh Kanwar remained absent from duty from 01.5.2005 on account of registration of criminal case against him. Ultimately, he was convicted only for the offence punishable under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and was acquitted of the remaining charges. He was sentenced to the period already undergone and was directed to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/-. She further submits that at one point of time, there was family dispute between the petitioner and her late husband Dhannu Singh. However, they reunited in the year 2015 and started living together. During the Covid-19 pandemic, petitioner’s husband died on 09.11.2020. It is further submitted that the petitioner thereafter submitted an application before the respondent authorities seeking release of the service and retiral dues payable in respect of her late husband. On the respondent’s demand, she also submitted notarized statement, despite that she has not been granted service/retiral dues payable to the petitioner. Hence, learned counsel prays that this writ petition may be disposed of by directing the respondent authorities to consider and release all service and retiral dues, including family pension and other consequential benefits, payable in respect of the petitioner's late husband, in accordance with law, within a time-bound period.
3 . In reply, learned counsel for the State submits that communications (Annexure-P/5 & P/6) in this regard have been made between the Sub Divisional Office (PWD), Sakti Sub Division Sakti and Executive Engineer (PWD), Sakti, Champa Division, Champa regarding the release of the service and retiral dues payable in respect of the petitioner's late husband. It is further submitted that the service book of the deceased employee is presently
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unavailable, as it had been seized by the police in connection with the criminal proceedings. Hence, the respondent authorities are in the process of reconstructing the service book of late Dhannu Singh Kanwar. It is submitted that immediately upon completion of the reconstruction of the service book, all admissible service and retiral dues payable in respect of the petitioner's late husband shall be processed and released in accordance with law.
4. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record.
5. Having considered the rival submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties and, in particular, the facts emerging from the internal communications exchanged between the respondent authorities regarding the release of the service and retiral dues payable in respect of late Dhannu Singh Kanwar, husband of the petitioner, as well as the limited prayer made by learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court is of the opinion that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the present petition pending.
6. Hence, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to reconstruct the service book of late Dhannu Singh Kanwar, as early as possible. Upon completion of the reconstruction of the service book, the respondents shall process and release all admissible service and retiral dues, including any other consequential benefits payable in respect of late Dhannu Singh Kanwar, to the petitioner, in accordance with law, within a period of 90 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.
7. Accordingly, this petition stands disposed of.
8. Pending interlocutory application(s), if any, stands disposed of.
Sd/-
(Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi) Judge
Bini
1 issue framed by the court
Should the State release service and retiral dues including family pension payable to the widow of a deceased PWD employee whose service book was seized by police?
2 provisions across 2 enactments
Smt. Meera Singh Kanwar
The State Of Chhattisgarh Through Its Secretary, Public Works Department
The Chief Engineer Public Works Department, Bilaspur
Sub Divisional Officer Public Works Department, Sakti
Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi
As recorded by the court registry
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