New Delhi, Sept. 2 -- A widow of a Bank of Maharashtra employee received her husband's provident fund and gratuity after his death. Years later, she sought family pension under a one-time pension scheme introduced by the bank, but the Delhi High Court rejected her claim, holding that she had failed to exercise the option within the prescribed deadline and could not establish proof of timely submission.

The case concerned Savitri Devi, widow of late Ramesh Chand, who had joined Bank of Maharashtra on March 1, 1985 and died while in service on February 12, 2006. At the time, he was covered by the contributory provident fund regime. The bank settled the provident fund and gratuity benefits payable on his death on July 24, 2006.

The dispute...