MULESHWARI PRASAD SINGH Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE present petition has been preferred mainly for the reason without any opportunity of being heard and without giving any notice to the petitioner, Respondent No. 2 passed the order on 31st August, 2002 whereby a sizeable amount of Rs. 77,273/ - has been deducted from the retirement benefit of the present petitioner. The petitioner retired on 31st July, 2002. A time bound promotion which was given somewhere in the year 1979 to petitioner. As per the counsel appearing for the respondent it was wrongly given to the petitioner and, therefore, an order had been passed by Respondent No. 2 dated 21st August, 2003 for deduction of this amount from retirement benefits of the present petitioner. Thus, admittedly, after a period of more than one decode, the amount has been deducted and that too, without giving any notice and without giving any opportunity of being heard to the petitioner.

(2.) IT is submitted by the counsel for the petitioner that respondents have no legal authority, to deduce the amount of Rs. 77,273/ - from the retirement benefit. Promotion was rightly given, somewhere in the year 1979 or in 1992 (There is some dispute as to this year). Had an opportunity been given to the present petitioner, this aspect of the matter could have been highlighted by the present petitioner before the Respondent No. 2, but, an arbitrary and an unilateral decision, was taken by the Respondent No. 2 without hearing present petitioner and, therefore, an order passed by Respondent No. 2 dated 31st August, 2003 of deducting of Rs. 77,273/ - deserves to be quashed and set aside.

(3.) HAVING heard counsel for the both sides it appears that the present petitioner was working as a Routine Clerk with the respondent authority. The petitioner has worked for more than approximately 40 years. Petitioner retired on 31st of July, 2002 and, therefore, is bound to be given time bound promotion, which is only on the basis of length of service.