The Punjab and Haryana High Court has provided a ray of hope for government employees, who need government loan for their marriage. The rules so far provide for this facility only for the marriage of children or siblings of government employees.

Justice Ranjit Singh directed the Haryana government to “reconsider, decide and issue afresh” the policy under which a government employee is not entitled to loan for his/her marriage. Terming this ‘strange’ and ‘a case of an amiss’, Justice Singh observed: “There is no rationale in formulating these instructions in this manner. The consideration for advance (loan) in such cases rather may be more pronounced and appropriate.”

The Haryana government has been directed to reconsider the issue afresh, clarify and “introduce any change in the policy, if it would like to”.

 The directions came in wake of a public interest litigation filed by Sonu Verma, a resident of Karnal working at Industrial Training Institute Karnal. Verma, who had applied for a loan of Rs 90,000 for his marriage, was denied by the government. He then moved the high court demanding quashing of the rules.

The Justice said: “I am conscious that it is a policy formulated by the state and it is within the domain of the state Government to frame policy as per its wisdom. I am also conscious that to seek an advance may not be a right. It is an assistance which the state as a welfare measure is providing. Attempt is not to find if the policy is unwise but to refer it to the framers to consider if this is a case of an inadvertent slip. The instructions have not clearly excluded loan for self marriage.”

... contd.