BANSHIDHAR SHARMA Vs. BIRSA AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) WHEN the case was taken up on 1.12.2008, it was adjourned for today, at the instance of the respondent -University for filing counter affidavit. But while granting adjournment, it was made clear that if the counter affidavit is not filed by the next date, the matter shall be disposed of, on the basis of the materials available on the record. In spite of that no counter affidavit has been filed.

(2.) ACCORDINGLY matter was heard.

(3.) AT the outset it be stated that the matter relating to Pension of the petitioner being a member of the Staff of the University shall not be governed by the provisions of the Bihar Pension Rules rather it would be subjected to statute, if any, framed under the Bihar Agricultural University Act relating to grant of retirement benefit to the employees. But nothing was placed before me permitting the employer to withhold the amount of pension or to recover that amount which is said to have been drawn in excess. In the instant case, the University has passed an order for adjusting Rs. 3,000/ - per month from the amount of the pension of the petitioner as the petitioner has been alleged to have drawn Rs. 1,13,155/ - in excess as pension but that amount in absence of any provision either in statute or regulation empowering the authority to recover the same, cannot be recovered after 15 years of retirement, from the amount of pension of the petitioner. That apart nothing appears to be on record that the petitioner was allowed to draw the amount of Rs. 1,13,155/ - allegedly in excess on account of any misrepresentation on the part of the petitioner. In that view of the matter also the authority of the University in view of the ratio laid down by Hon'ble Supreme Court in case of Sahib Ram v. State of Haryana 1997(5)SCALE226 , is not entitled to recover the same.