JUDGMENT

J.M. Panchal, J. —

1. This appeal by special leave is directed against judgment dated January 25, 2006 by the Division Bench of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in LPA No.694 of 1995 by which the appellants have been directed to count previous service rendered by respondent No.1, Narata Singh, in the Departments of Punjab State as work charged employee for the purpose of determining qualifying service for pension payable to him as an employee of the Punjab State Electricity Board (for short, the ‘Board’).

2. The admitted facts which emerge from the record of the case are as under: The respondent No.1 worked with Irrigation and Power Department of the State of Punjab on work charged basis from February 1, 1952 to September 18, 1953. From September 25, 1953, he worked as work charged employee with the Bhakra Dam Project and resigned therefrom on January 27, 1962. He thereafter joined the Beas Dam Project on February 1, 1962 and worked at the said project till April 15, 1978 as work charged employee. He was retrenched from the said project with effect from April 15, 1978 and was paid retrenchment compensation of Rs.11,803.20 and gratuity of Rs.8559/- by the