No recovery of excess selection grade pay from retirees' pensionary benefits; refixation post FR 22-B amendment required.

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed for the following relief:

“To issue a writ of Mandamus direction or order bearing Na.Ka.No.1083/2025/K2 dt.10.11.2025 on the file of the 4th respondent and to quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to disburse petitioner retirement benefits including Gratuity, Commutation of pension, Monthly pension and other monetary benefits within the time.”

2. Heard the learned counsels on both sides and perused the materials available on record.

3. The issue involved in the present writ petition was earlier considered in a batch of writ petitions in W.P.No.12275 of 2024 dated 02.03.2026, wherein a similar relief was claimed. The learned Judge after hearing the arguments of both sides and discussing the relevant Rules and Government Orders in detail had ultimately disposed of the writ petitions with directions. These directions are extracted herein below:

“85. In the result, all the writ petitions are disposed of with the following directions: ~

i) The impugned order directing the fixation of the selection grade/special grade scale of pay at the first promotional level and 2nd promotional level is set aside to the extent that there shall be no recovery of amount, which has already been paid, from the petitioners ;

ii) Insofar as the petitioners, who have retired from service is concerned, no amount shall be recovered on the basis of the impugned order from the retrial benefits/pensionary benefits of the petitioners with regard to the amount already paid;

iii) Insofar as the petitioners, who are still in service, no amount shall be recovered on the basis of the impugned order from the salary of the petitioners with regard to the amount already paid;

iv) In case any amount has already been recovered from any of the petitioners towards excess payment made in the selection grade scale, the same shall not be refunded to the petitioners and the respondents shall re-fix the selection grade scale of pay of the said petitioners after amendment to FR 22~B and, thereafter, upon computation, if any amount is due and payable to any of petitioners, the same shall be paid by the respondents forthwith;

v) Until FR 22~B is amended so as to include the directions given in G.O.Ms. No.63305/Pay Cell/2010~1 dated 8.11.2010, more particularly para 4 (i) of the said Government Order, no action shall be taken by the respondents to re-fix the scale of pay of the petitioners and similarly placed persons;

vi) Subject to amendment, if any, that may be made to FR 22~B, with reference to G.O. Ms. No.63305/Pay Cell/2020~1 dated 8.11.2020, the respondents are at liberty to revise the salary of the persons who are in service by refixing their scales of pay in the selection grade as also the pensionary benefits of the pensioners by refixing their scales of pay in selection grade in line with the amendments that may be made to FR 22~B for computing the admissible pension payable based on para 4 (i) of G.O. Ms. No.63305/Pay Cell/2010~1 dated 8.11.2010, which shall be applicable only prospectively and not retrospectively;

vii) Pursuant to the amendment, if any, made to FR 22~B, upon refixation of the scales of pay of the petitioners, and computing the revised pay that the petitioners who are in service would be entitled to and the revised monthly pension that the retired petitioners would be entitled to, it is made clear that the petitioners would also be entitled for selection grade benefit in the post of HM~MS upon completion of 10 years of service in the said post;

viii) The grant of selection grade scale of pay in the post of HM~MS shall be fixed after amendment to FR 22~B and after refixing the selection grade scale of pay of the petitioners in the erstwhile post of HM~PS and monetary benefit, if an