2026:CGHC:4264 NAFR Digitally signed by YOGESH YOGESH TIWARI HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR TIWARI Date:

2026.01.23

19:06:26 +0530 WPS No. 8675 of 2023 Rashid Mohammad S/o Fazal Mohammad Aged About 63 Years R/o Village 13/ 200 Ekta Chowk Ward No. 13, Talapara Bilaspur District Bilaspur (C.G.)

... Petitioner versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary Electricity / Engineering Light Machinery Department Raipur Chhattisgarh

2 - Accountant General (Account Branch) Raipur Chhattisgarh

3 - Executive Engineer Electricity Engineering Light Machinary Tube Well And Get Division Bilaspur Chhattisgarh

4 - Sub Divisional Officer Electricity Engineering Light Machinery Tubewell And Get Division Sakri Bilaspur (C.G.)

... Respondents (Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

Order on Board

23.01.2026

1. By way of this petition, the petitioner has prayed for following reliefs:-

“10.1 That the Hon'ble court may kindly be pleased to order and direct the respondent authority to provide the remaining retrial dues of an amount of 3,51,889/- along with interest to the petitioner.

10.2 Any other relief, which may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, may also be allowed.”

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner retired on 31.05.2021 after serving as a Truck Driver with the respondent-department and became entitled to his full retiral dues, particularly the General Provident Fund (GPF) amounting to ₹10,24,698/-. However, despite issuance of a letter dated 04.06.2021 for processing final payment, the respondent authorities released only a partial amount of ₹2,56,548/-, unlawfully withholding the balance sum of ₹7,68,148/- without any justification. It is further submitted that repeated representations dated 26.08.2021 and 30.10.2021, supported by the A.G. report and relevant records, failed to evoke any response. Consequently, the petitioner approached Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in W.P. (S) No. 2905 of 2022, wherein directions were issued on 11.05.2022 to grant a personal hearing and take a reasoned decision within 60 days. Despite the said directions, the respondents continued to delay and thereafter released only ₹4,17,107/-, still withholding a balance amount of ₹3,51,889/- along with admissible interest. It is contended that the continued non-payment of the petitioner’s lawful retiral dues and interest is arbitrary, and contrary to settled principles of law governing retiral benefits, thereby warranting interference by this Court.

3. On the other hand, learned State counsel submits that the petitioner retired on 31.05.2021 from the post of Driver under the office of Executive Engineer, E/M Light Machinery, Tube-Well and Gate Division, Sakri, District Bilaspur (C.G.). After retirement, the case of the petitioner for pension and other retiral dues was duly processed by Respondent No.3 and, after due verification by the office of the Divisional Joint Director, Treasury, Accounts and Pension, Bilaspur, the admissible retiral dues were released to the petitioner in the year 2021. He further submits that the petitioner’s claim regarding non-payment of GPF is based upon a provisional Accountant General slip showing a balance of ₹10,24,696/-, which was expressly subject to adjustment. Pursuant to directions issued by Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.(S) No. 2905 of 2022, the Accountant General, Chhattisgarh issued an authority letter dated 28.07.2022 for payment of GPF amount of ₹4,17,106/-, which was duly paid to the petitioner by Respondent No.3. The payment details stand duly demonstrated by the record placed on Annexure R/1.

4. It is lastly submitted that all requisite records relating to GPF deductions were supplied to the Accountant General by Respondent No