Supreme Court of India Grants Pensionary Benefits to Appellant After 25-Year-Long Litigation. Court Condemns Failure of Departmental Inquiry and Upholds Employee’s Right to Pension

Constitution of India, 1950 (COI) — Article 226 — High Court's Power of Judicial Review — High Court’s dismissal of writ petition and review application for non-prosecution — Supreme Court held that long pendency of the matter and lack of inquiry on merits justified decision on merits (Paras: 2, 3)

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) — Section 151 — Inherent Powers of Court — Restoration of writ petition dismissed for non-prosecution — Supreme Court exercised discretion considering long-standing nature of the case (Para: 3)

West Bengal Service (Death-cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1971 — Rule 175 and Rule 176(4) — Extraordinary Leave — Entitlement to Pension — Supreme Court held that once service is regularized by treating absence as extraordinary leave, it cannot be treated as a break in service — Denial of pension without inquiry deemed unjustified (Paras: 7, 8, 11, 12)

Supreme Court allowed the civil appeals, holding that once the service was regularized by treating absence as extraordinary leave, the period could not be treated as a break in service — directing the authorities to finalize pension within three months without arrears.

Subjects:

Pensionary Benefits, Extraordinary Leave, Departmental Inquiry, Judicial Review, Long Pendency, Regularization of Service, Dismissal for Non-Prosecution, Restoration of Writ Petition, Employee Rights, Government Service Rules

Nature of the Litigation: Civil Appeal arising from the dismissal of a writ petition and subsequent review application by the High Court of Calcutta for non-prosecution.

Relief Sought: Restoration of writ petition and grant of pensionary benefits.

Reason for Filing: Denial of pensionary benefits following the regularization of service without conducting a departmental inquiry despite the Tribunal’s directive.

Previous Decisions: High Court dismissed writ petition and review application for non-prosecution; Tribunal order directing inquiry was not complied with.

Issues:a) Whether the appellant’s period of extraordinary leave can be treated as a break in service for denying pensionary benefits?b) Whether the failure to conduct a departmental inquiry as directed by the Tribunal affected the appellant’s entitlement to pension?

Submissions/Arguments:a) Appellant contended that the failure to conduct a departmental inquiry violated principles of natural justice.b) Respondents argued the appellant’s long absence disqualified her from pensionary benefits.

Ratio: Denial of pensionary benefits must be based on established rules and due process; failure to conduct a departmental inquiry cannot justify withholding benefits (Paras: 11, 12)

Issue of Consideration: JAYA BHATTACHARYA VERSUS THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS.