Hyderabad: Making it clear that law does not permit it to interfere with pensions of the old and retired persons, the Telangana high court on Monday wondered as to which a clause of the law has permitted the state government to cut down their pensions from April 2020.

 A bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh and Justice Vijaysen Reddy gave two days to the government to justify its stand while hearing a batch of petitions filed by counsel S Satyam Reddy.

Talking tough, the Chief Justice said: “Unless the state declares a financial emergency, it has no powers – whatsoever – to touch the pensions. Even the Disaster Management Act does not contain any such provision. That is the legal status.”

Making no bones about his unhappiness at the government’s move, he further said: “Pension is not a charity. Law does not accord you (government) any permission even to defer its payment.”

“The GO issued by you in respect of pensions has no legal basis. It needs to be set aside,” he said while rejecting the government’s counter which, he said, has many “misplaced notions” in it.