Judgment :

T.S. Thakur, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. The short question that falls for our consideration in this appeal by special leave is whether letter dated 8th October, 2007 sent by late Shri Mauzi Ram, husband of the appellant, was in essence a letter seeking pre-mature retirement on medical grounds or a letter of resignation from the service of the respondent-bank. The High Court has while dismissing the writ petitio and the appeal filed by the deceased employee declared that the letter in question was a letter of resignation that resulted in forfeiture of the entire service rendered by the employee disentitling him to claim any pensionary benefits. The correctness of that view is under challenge in this appeal filed by the widow of the deceased employee who passed away during the pendency of the proceedings before the High Court. Since the answer to the question so much depends upon the circumstances in which the letter referred to above was written by the deceased-employee, we may as well reproduce the same in extenso :

Patna

Date : 9-10-07.

To

The Zonal Manager, Central Bank of India,

Zonal Office,

Patna.

Though : Proper Channel

Sub : Resignation from the service of bank

Respected Sir,

Wit