SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2025 Supreme(MP) 10

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Suresh Kumar Kait, CJ, and Vivek Jain, J.
Bank of India Through Its General Manager & Another v. Narmada Prasad Choudhary
Writ Appeals No.445 of 2024 and 720 of 2024 (Jabalpur):
against the order dated 23.11.2023 passed in Writ Petition No. 3428 of 2021; Decided on 20.1.2025

Advocates appeared:
Ashish Shroti for appellant/Bank; Respondent in person.

Period of service excluded due to unjust compulsory retirement must be counted for benefits upon reinstatement as per judicial directives, ensuring equitable treatment for employees.

Headnote:(A) Bank of India Officer Employees' (Discipline and Appeal) Regulations, 1976 - Appellant Bank aggrieved by order allowing partial relief concerning calculation of service period for retirement benefits; Writ Appeal No.445/2024 - The order dated 23.11.2023 directed the Bank to count the period of 7 years 8 months and 11 days in calculating service for retirement benefits; dealt with issue of reinstatement post-compulsory retirement, emphasizing that deprivation from service during that period must be compensated. (Paras 2, 18, 24, 28)

(B) Judicial Review - Consideration of whether previous periods of compulsory retirement affect eligibility for benefits; court finds that once compulsory retirement is quashed, unless otherwise stated, it should not affect service calculations. (Paras 8, 24)

(C) Interest on Arrears - Awarded 8% interest on any overdue payments to compensate delays in releasing benefits. (Paras 18)

Facts of the case:
Petitioner was unlawfully retired and after legal battles reinstated; Bank contested the counting of the period of compulsory retirement in assessing entitlements.

Findings of Court:
The learned Single Judge correctly determined that the denial of benefits during the unjust punishment was erroneous.

Issues: The issues included the calculation of service after a compulsory retirement, the lawfulness of the imposed penalty, and the right to benefits post-reinstatement.

Ratio Decidendi: The court underscored that if a punishment is reviewed to a lesser degree, it is treated as effective from the date of the original punishment unless stated otherwise.

Result: Writ Appeals dismissed, order of the learned Single Judge affirmed.

Table of Content
1. writ appeals are disposed of together. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. petitioner's claims for arrears and pension. (Para 4)
3. disciplinary proceedings leading to penalties. (Para 5 , 6 , 10 , 12)
4. bank's arguments on delay and entitlement. (Para 11 , 14 , 21)
5. court reviews legality of service period exclusion. (Para 13 , 23 , 24)
6. supreme court precedent on punishment substitutions. (Para 25 , 26 , 27)
7. court dismisses appeals, upholding lower court's order. (Para 28)

ORDER

Kait, C.J. -- 1. By this common order, both these writ appeals are being disposed of as one has been filed by the appellant/Bank of India (hereinafter referred to as 'the Bank') and the another by the employee (writ petitioner) against the same impugned order allowing in part by the learned Single Judge.

2. Writ Appeal No.445/2024 has been filed by the Bank being aggrieved by the order dated 23.11.2023 passed by the learned Single Judge in Writ Petition No.3428/2021 whereby the writ petition filed by the writ petitioner Narmada Prasad Choudhary was partly allowed with the following directions:

"18. Accordingly this petition is allowed in part directing the respondent Bank to count the total service of the petitioner counting the period of 7 years 8 months and 11 days to be in service and his total length of service shall be calculated w.e.f 8.7.1974 till 30.6.2013, as such retiral benefits and other pensionary benefits be calculated accordingly and other benefit for which the petitioner is entitled, be also granted to him treating him to be in service during that period also. The aforesaid exercise be carried out within a period of three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order and whatever arrears are drawn, the same shall also be paid to the petitioner within the aforesaid period. It is m made ade clear that if arrears arrea are not paid to the petition petitioner er within the given time, the same will carry interest @ 8% per annum till the date of actual payment made to the petitioner."

3. Writ Appeal No.720/2024 has been filed by writ petitioner Narmada Prasad Choudhary as well being aggrieved by that portion of the order dated 23.11.2023 passed by the learned Single Judge in the same petition i.e. Writ Petition No.3428/2021 declining the reliefs relief as prayed in Para 7(ii) to (v) in the writ petition and seeks ks indulgence of this Court to grant the same.

4. The petitioner contends that the t learned Single Judge allowed the writ petition in part.. The prayer of the petitioner in his appeal is that the learned Single Judge has declined the following reliefs as sought in the writ petition, which reads read as under :--

ii) This Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct the Respondents to pay all the arrears of Fitment/appropriate pension/Gratuity/Commutation/leave encashment/refund the salary 2,05,000/ 2,05,000/- (deducted for 07 months 05 days) between the period 7.1.2002 7.1.20 to 30.6.2013 with all the consequential & promotional benefits alongwith 20% interest p.a. from 7.1.2002 till actual payment.

iii) Any other relief/ orders/ direction/ directions which this Hon'ble Court deems just and proper may also be passed in the interest of justice.

iv) Heavy cost of the petition may also be granted to the petitioner.

v) To quash the respondent's Appellate oorder rder dated 10.10.2009 (Annexure P/12) & Review order dated 21.6.2010 (Annexure P/13) and respondents be also directed to pay arrears of salary/Fitment & revised monthly pension after re re-calculation calculation of appropriate Basic Pay from 7.1.2002 to 30.6.2013 and an arrears of pension on revised basic pay from 1.7.2013 till date of actual payment alongwith an interest @ 20% p.a. from 7.1.2002 in the interest of justice."

5. The crux of the case is that the petitioner was working on the post of Senior Manager.. A disciplinary proceeding was initiated against him in which punishment of compulsory retirement was imposed by the disciplinary authority. The

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top