240 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP-29781-2024 Date of decision: 23.02.2026 SANT RAM ....Petitioner Versus PUNJAB STATE POWER CORPORATION Ltd. AND ORS ....Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR Present: Mr. Kulbir Singh Saini, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Hridyavans S. Randhawa, Advocate for Mr. R.P.S. Bara, Advocate for the respondents.

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HARPREET SINGH BRAR , J (Oral):

1. The present petition has been filed under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of a writ in the nature of Certiorari, for quashing the impugned letter/Memo No.140 SCE/D-3 dated 14.06.2024 (Annexure P-4) and order dated 20.08.2024 (Annexure P-5) passed by respondents, whereby recovery of Rs.2,52,974/- was ordered from the gratuity amount of the petitioner vide Annexures P-4 and P-5. A further prayer has been made for Mandamus directing the respondents to release the due gratuity amount of the petitioner forthwith along with interest @9% per anuum from the due date till the date of payment.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners inter alia contends that the petitioner was initially appointed as an unskilled worker and was later on sele