O R D E R (FINAL)

JUSTICE RITU TAGORE, MEMBER [JUDL.]

01.The applicant, a retired Class-IV employee, is aggrieved of the action of the respondents whereby, after his retirement on 31.05.2022, his pension has been stepped down and retiral benefits, including gratuity, have been withheld on the ground of alleged excess payment arising out of grant of higher pay scale under SRO-149 of 1973.

02.Through the medium of the present Original Application, the applicant seeks quashing of the impugned order bearing No. MID/Estt/1313-16 dated 20.06.2022, issued by the Executive Engineer, Mechanical Irrigation Division Baramulla (respondent No. 5) (Annexure–I), sofar as it directs stepping down of the pension of the applicant. The applicant further seeks a direction to the respondents to release hispensionary benefits on the basis of the last pay drawn, along with all consequential benefits.

03.Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the Devendra Digitaly signed by Devendra Tripathi applicant was initially engaged as a daily wager on 14.06.1987 and was subsequently regularized as Helper vide Government Order dated 03.09.1996 with effect from 01.04.1995 in terms of policy in vogue at that time