SC imposes Rs 10L cost on state over employee’s retirement dues
Times of India | 19 February 2025
12 Kolkata: A cost of Rs 10 lakh was imposed by Supreme Court on Bengal govt on Feb 14 for not paying retiral dues to a govt employee even 18 years after his retirement.
The division bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta stated that it was unfortunate that despite retiring in 2007, the man was only getting a provisional pension. The state had challenged the directions of Calcutta High Court, which had quashed disciplinary proceedings against the person and directed release of all dues.
The apex court bench called the challenge by the state govt "a completely frivolous and vexatious petition".
A disciplinary inquiry had been conducted in 1984, in which the man was exonerated. However, a show-cause notice was issued in 1997 proposing punishment disagreeing with the findings of the inquiry officer at the instance of the vigilance department. The employee had tendered his reply to the show-cause notice, and no further action was taken.
However, thirteen years later — and three years after his retirement in 2007 — a second show-cause notice on the same matter was issued on June 22, 2010.
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