The cancellation of a service benefit that has already been granted and implemented requires the authority to follow the principles of natural justice, specifically by providing the affected employees with a notice and an opportunity to be heard.

Order on Board

25.08.2026

1. The present writ petition has been preferred against the impugned order (Annexure P/1) dated 04.01.2020 whereby the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman, earlier granted to the petitioners after completion of 10 years of service pursuant to the orders passed by this Hon’ble Court, has been cancelled without issuing any notice or affording any opportunity of hearing to the petitioners.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners had completed 10 years of service and were accordingly entitled to the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman under the applicable Government circulars. Pursuant to the orders passed by this Hon’ble Court, respondent No.6 had duly considered the claim of the petitioners and granted them the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman vide order dated 06.12.2019, which was also acted upon and implemented. However, subsequently, the said benefit was cancelled without issuing any notice to the petitioners or affording them any opportunity of hearing and without assigning any cogent reason. It is, therefore, submitted that the impugned order is arbitrary, illegal and violative of the principles of natural justice and is liable to be set aside.

3. Learned State Counsel submits that the impugned order has been passed in compliance with the directions issued by the competent authority vide letter dated 23.09.2019. It is submitted that the earlier order granting the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman to the petitioners was subsequently found to be not in accordance with the applicable instructions, and therefore, the same was cancelled with immediate effect. Hence, no interference is called for in the present writ petition.

4. I have learned counsel for the parties and perused the records.

5. From the perusal of the impugned order, it appears that the earlier order granting Kramonnati Vetanman to the petitioners has been cancelled without affording them any opportunity of hearing. Since the said order had already been acted upon, the respondents ought to have followed the principles of natural justice before cancelling the same.

6. Accordingly, the impugned order dated 04.01.2020 (Annexure P/1) is hereby set aside. The matter is remitted back to respondent No.6/ Chief Executive Officer Janpad Panchayat Balrampur, to reconsider the issue after affording them an opportunity of hearing and thereafter pass a reasoned and speaking order, in accordance with law, within a period of 3 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. Accordingly, the present writ petition stands disposed of.