Patna, Aug. 23: Bihar Human Rights Commission has directed AN Sinha Institute of Social Sciences (ANSISS) to pay pension to its retired employees by August 31.

The commission passed the direction on a petition filed by the institute’s pensioners seeking direction for resumption of their pension payment.

“The director is directed to make the payments (of pension) to pensioners, along with their arrears, before September 1, 2014,” Justice Bilal Nazki, the commission chairperson, said in his order.

The commission also directed the ANSISS director to file compliance report by the end of first week of September.

ANSISS Employees’ Association general secretary told The Telegraph that the institute suddenly stopped payment of monthly pension to its 36 retired employees (pensioners) since April this year without citing any reason.

The pensioners submitted memorandum to the ANSISS director for resuming payment of the pension to its retired employees but the director did not pay heed to the demand, forcing them (pensioners) to approach the commission for redress.

The pensioners moved the commission on July 2, seeking direction for resumption of their pension payment.

The commission took up the matter on August 14 in which ANSISS director D.M. Diwakar, along with deputy director, higher education, Satyendra Narayan Yadav was also present.

The commission was of the view that there was no problem in payment of pension, especially after going through the state government’s side on the issue.

“During the hearing, it became clear that the government had issued a letter (no. 1057 dated August 13, 2014) only yesterday in which the institute director had been directed to pay the pensioners immediately. Neither the institute nor the government disputes entitlement of pension to pensioners, the director should have no objection to pay outstanding dues to petitioners. If there are any technical or logistical issues, they should be resolved by the institute director with the government,”Justice Nazki noted in his order.