In Brief
A widow sought pension benefits under the Coal Mines Pension Scheme, 1998, after her husband's death in 2011. He had opted to receive 90% of his pension during his lifetime; she claimed a lump sum of 100 times his full monthly pension upon his death. The employer refunded only 10% of the surrendered amount. The High Court dismissed her petition on territorial jurisdiction grounds without examining the merits. The Supreme Court allowed her appeal, holding that pension is a hard-earned property right. Since her husband died before the scheme provision was abolished, she is entitled to the full lump sum benefit, with prior refunds adjusted. The Court ordered the amount be computed and disbursed within 8 weeks.
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