PLC at Kerala High Court regarding Pravasi Welfare Fund

Pravasi Legal Cell Vs State of Kerala, 06/08/2020

Pravasi Legal Cell filed a petition at the Kerala High Court against an existing rule that by the age of 60 a pravasi Indian should take membership in the Pravasi Welfare Fund scheme to avail of its benefits. 

It was back in 2008 that the Kerala Government, with the objective of helping Keralite emigrants who return to the state, enacted the Pravasi Welfare Act, 2008. In accordance with the Act, a pension board and welfare fund were constituted for the welfare of the returning pravasis.

The petition stated that during the Covid period many expatriates were returning to Kerala and were interested in taking membership in the Pravasi Welfare Fund to avail of the pension scheme. The petition stated that the age limit for the availing pension benefit is discriminatory and that many among the returnees were above the age of 60. Petition further stated that all the returning Pravasis should be able to get benefits of the Pravasi Welfare Fund.

In this matter, the Hon’ble High Court accepted the petition and directed Pravasi Welfare Fund to take a decision on the demand of the petitioner within three months.