Reserved on 02.03.2026 CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, ALLAHABAD BENCH ALLAHABAD This is the 17^th day of March,2026.

Original Application No 1039 of 2025 HON’BLE MR JUSTICE OM PRAKASH-VII,MEMBER (J)

Mahaveer Saran, aged about 71 years, son of Late Babu Ram, R/o H.

No. 129/954 Y Block, Kidwai Nagar, District Kanpur Nagar.

.Applicant ByAdv: Shri Ram Akbal Upadhyay VE RS U S

1. The Union of India through Inspector General, Railway Protection Force, North Central Railway, Zonal Officer,Subedarganj, Prayagraj.

2. Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force, North Central Railway, Jhansi.

3. Assistant Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force, North Central Railway, Jhansi.

MANISH KUMAR 4. Senior Divisional Finance Manager, North Central Railway, SRIVASTAVA Jhansi.

. . .Respondents By Adv: Shri Anil Kumar.

(O R D E R)

BY JUSTICE OM PRAKASH-VII, MEMBER(J)

The present O.A has been filed by the applicant under section 19 of the Administrative Tribunal Act,1985 seeking following reliefs:-

“(i) Allow the original application and direct the respondents to grant notional increment to the applicant from the period of 01.07.2013 to 31.05.2014 for the purpose of pensionary benefits according to law and the judgment passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

(ii) Revise the 1314030658 dated 28.05.2014 issued by the respondent No. 4 and pay all the consequential benefits to the applicant w.e.f. 01.06.2014 along with 9% interest till the date of payment.

(iii) To grant any other relief, which this Hon’ble Tribunal may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.

(iv) Award the cost of the application in favour of the applicant”.

2. Brief facts of the case are that the applicant was appointed as a Constable in the Railway Protection Force on 22.10.1977 under the control of the respondents and retired on 31.05.2014 from the post of Assistant Sub Inspector in the pay scale of Rs. 9300–34800 with Grade Pay of Rs. 4200/- At the time of his retirement, his last drawn pay was Rs. 16,730/-, and he was sanctioned a pension of Rs. 8,365/- w.e.f. 01.06.2014 by the respondent authorities. The grievance of the applicant is that while fixing his pension, the respondents did not grant him the benefit of one notional increment for the period from 01.07.2013 to 31.05.2014, despite the fact that he had completed more than 11 months of service after his last increment. The applicant came to know in July 2025 from other retired employees that government servants retiring after completing more than six months of service from the last increment may be entitled to a notional increment for the purpose of pensionary benefits under the applicable MANISH Fundamental Rules/Supplementary Rules (F.R./S.R.). Since the respondents KUMAR SRIVASTAVA denied the benefit of the said notional increment at the time of his superannuation on 31.05.2014, the applicant has filed the present Original Application seeking appropriate relief.

3. Per contra, the respondents have filed their counter affidavit stating that the applicant retired from service on 31.05.2014 and, therefore, had not completed one full year of service from the date of his last increment up to the date of retirement. As such, he is not entitled to the benefit of notional increment. It has further been submitted that as per the judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court and the instructions issued by the Government of India, DoPT vide letter dated 14.10.2024 and the Railway Board vide letter dated 21.05.2025, the benefit of notional increment for the purpose of pensionary benefits is applicable only to those employees who retired on 30th June or 31st December, as the case may be. Since the applicant retired on 31.05.2014, he does not fall within the said category. Therefore, the Pension Payment Order (PPO) issued to the applicant has been correctly fixed in accordance with the existing rules and instructions, and there is no illegality or ambiguity in the same. Accordingly, the respondents hav