Driver dead on papers after goof-up by authorities

A goof-up by authorities has left a retired driver of Himachal Road Transport Corporation dead on papers and his pension stopped, leaving him to make ends meets by working as a daily labourer.

Kartar Singh, who hails from Ban Karoli village in Nurpur tehsil of Himachal Pradesh, served in Pathankot depot and retired from service in 2001. He was getting pension since then.

All was going well till June 30 this year when his wife Sudershana Devi received a letter signed by Managing director of HRTC, Shimla and financial advisor of the corporation demanding the death certificate of her husband for their record.

The copy of the same was sent to the bank where his pension used to come and the bank stopped paying his pension.

"I was surprised to learn that they have declared a living man dead. I personally talked to the bank and HRTC officials to convince them that I am still alive but my pension has not been restored so far," Singh told PTI.

He said he even sent a legal notice to HRTC, but no no response has come so far.

When contacted, Managing Director of HRTC Trilok Chandra Janartha admitted the mistake.

"A departmental inquiry has been ordered into the incident and guilty officials will be taken to task," he said adding they were trying to restore the driver's pension.

Singh said he has acquired a certificate from gram panchayat, Larhoon, to prove that he is alive.

The retired HRTC driver, who has to look after his family comprising wife, two daughters and a son is facing financial problem because of the goof-up.

In order to make ends meet, he has been forced to work as daily labourer. "This is living ordeal of a man who has become victim of officials malfunctioning".