Chandigarh, Nov. 20 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the principal secretary of the Haryana electricity department to personally examine the issue of an 80-year-old widow running from pillar to post for 50 years for pensionary benefits of her late husband and ensure that "all lawful benefits are released to her forthwith".

The order was passed by the bench of justice HS Brar on the plea from Laxmi Devi from Sonepat whose husband Maha Singh, died on January 5, 1974, while working as a sub-station officer with the then Haryana State Electricity Board. The petitioner received only a small ex-gratia payment of Rs.6,026 in 1976. However, the family pension, gratuity and other dues were never released to her despite multiple r...