NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has criticized that a three-member committee was appointed to study the re-examination report received two years ago regarding the contributory pension of state employees to bypass the court process. On November 10, Chief Secretary Dr. V. Venu should appear in person and give an explanation.

The government told the court that if the report was made public, there would be discord among the employees, but the court did not accept the argument.

The Supreme Court commented that the report cannot be kept secret forever saying that it is within the scope of the Cabinet documents. The Chief Secretary need not appear in person, if the copy of the report of the review committee is handed over to the petitioner Joint Council General Secretary Jayachandran Kallingal by November 10. It will be enough to give an affidavit in that case. SC also warned that the court proceedings should not be taken lightly.

The committee appointed by the LDF government to review the contributory pension implemented in 2013 had given its report in April 2021. Jayachandran Kallingal approached the Supreme Court to get a copy of the report. Government had sought time to decide on handing over the report the last time the petition was heard. When the case was taken up today, senior advocate Pallav Sisodia and Standing Counsel CK Sasi informed the court that the Cabinet meeting has decided to form a sub-committee. It was after this that the bench chaired by Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka took a strict stand.

Jayachandran Kallingal had approached the government under the Right to Information Act for a copy of the report. The reply was that it cannot be given as it is a ministerial document. The RTI Commission directed to hand over the copy, but the government approached the High Court and blocked it following which Jayachandran came to the Supreme Court questioning this.