Vanshika Bhalla
On January 25, 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that a wife remains eligible for a family pension even if she has been convicted of murdering her husband. The landmark decision was made during the case hearing of Baljinder Kaur vs. State of Haryana, who was convicted in 2011 for the 2009 murder of her husband, Tarsem Singh. Singh, a Haryana government employee, had passed away in 2008. Until 2011, Kaur had been receiving a family pension, but the Haryana government ceased payments after her conviction.
The Court emphasized the fundamental purpose of a family pension, stating that “Nobody butchers the hen giving golden eggs. The wife cannot be deprived of the family pension even if she murders her husband. Family pension is a welfare scheme that was launched to provide financial help to the family in the event of a government employee’s death. Wife is entitled to the family’s pension even if she is convicted in a criminal case.”
This ruling sets an important precedent, reinforcing that family pensions are meant to support the dependents of deceased government employees, irrespective of subsequent criminal convictions. The court nullified the Haryana government’s decision to withhold Kaur’s pension and directed the concerned department to release her pending dues within two months.
This judgment underscores the legal principle that pensions are a form of social security and cannot be arbitrarily revoked, ensuring financial stability for families of government employees even in extraordinary circumstances.
Case Name: Baljinder Kaur v. State of Haryana
Case Number: CWP No. 24430 of 2017
Bench: Justice G. S. Sandhawalia