Ram Bilas Singh v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.7379 of 2012 =========================================================== Ram Bilas Singh Son of late Ram Kishun Singh Resident Of Village and P.O.- Desua, P.O.-Ujiyarpur, District-Samastipur .... .... Petitioner/s

Versus

1. The State of Bihar, through The Principal Secretary, Human Resources Development Department, Bihar, Patna

2. The Secretary, Human Resources Development Department, Bihar, Patna

3. Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Kameshwar Nagar Darbhanga, through its Registrar

4. The Vice Chancellor, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Kameshwar Nagar, Darbhanga

5. The Registrar, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Kameshwar Nagar, Darbhanga

6. Principal, Samastipur College, Samastipur .... .... Respondent/s =========================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

For the Respondent/s :

=========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AHSANUDDIN AMANULLAH ORAL JUDGMENT Date: 29-09-2015 Heard learned counsel for the parties.

The petitioner is aggrieved by reduction in his pensionary benefits by the University.

Patna High Court CWJC No.7379 of 2012 dt.29-09-2015 2/3 Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner superannuated from the post of Senior Storekeeper on 31.12.1996. Thereafter, pursuant to order of the Court in CWJC No. 14234 of 2002, the pension was started. The amount of pension however was reduced from Rs. 12,402/- per month to Rs. 7,666/- per month without any intimation or notice to the petitioner. Learned counsel submits that after 15 years of retirement the action of the University is totally arbitrary and unsustainable in law. Learned counsel submits that the ostensible reason for such reduction is that the State Auditor had objected to payment to the petitioner on the post of Senior Storekeeper as no such post existed and thus the pay-scale of the petitioner has been notionally reduced resulting in reduction in his monthly pension.

Learned counsel for the University submits that the objection raised by the State was the reason for the University in reducing the monthly pension and thus the petitioner having worked and drawn salary of the post which was non-existent, action of the respondents is justified.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and submissions of learned counsel for the parties, the Court finds substance in the contention of learned counsel for the petitioner. The petitioner having discharged his duties and

Patna High Court CWJC No.7379 of 2012 dt.29-09-2015 3/3 superannuating in the year 1996, getting monthly pension till May, 2011 and the admitted position being that the emoluments received by the petitioner was neither at his behest, based on any misrepresentation or fraud on his part and further the reduction being without any prior show cause or notice, that too after 15 years of his superannuation, is fit to be set aside on the short point of violation of the principle of natural justice. The respondents also have not taken any plea with regard to there being any complicity of the petitioner either in holding the post or getting the pay and other emoluments of the said post till his retirement or even 15 years after superannuation.

In view of the aforesaid, the impugned action of the University in reducing the monthly pension of the petitioner is set aside. The petitioner shall receive his pension based on the last pay drawn by him at the time of superannuation. Any deduction/recovery made shall be refunded to him. Let the same be done within two months from the date of production of a copy of this order before the respondent no. 5.

The writ petition stands disposed off in the aforementioned terms.

(Ahsanuddin Amanullah, J) Anjani/- U