SURESH PANDEY Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner is an ex -army man. On pre -mature retirement, he was re -employed in the establishment of U.P. Jal Nigam as Junior Engineer on 24th August, 1984. Pursuant to the Government Order dated 31st March, 1970, the petitioner was sanctioned dearness allowance on the basic pay scale plus pension payable by the Army. Therefore, the order with regard to sanction of dearness allowance was passed on 10th February, 1987 and he had hitherto been enjoying this benefit until the impugned order dated 17th March, 2007 was passed. By the impugned order, all of a sudden, without giving any hearing whatsoever the aforesaid benefit of granting dearness allowance has been withdrawn.

(2.) IN the counter affidavit, it has been said that the benefit which has been given to the petitioner is not permissible under law even going by the Government Order dated 31st March, 1970. As such, on the strength of subsequent order dated 19th August, 1986, the said benefit was withdrawn. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that even assuming 1996 order provides for non -payment of dearness allowance to the employees like petitioner, such order cannot have retrospective operation as the petitioner appointed in 1984 and the benefit of dearness allowance was granted taking into consideration of the amount of pension and basic pay. He contends that this is absolutely whimsical action on the part of the respondents as inconsistent case has been made out in the counter affidavit wherein it is stated that the benefit has been withdrawn relying on 1997 order.

(3.) LEARNED counsel for the respondents submits that the benefit, if any, given to the petitioner is illegal and wrongful and actually he is given double benefit. Accordingly, in order to set the matter right, this benefit of granting dearness allowance has been withdrawn.