The Chandigarh Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ordered the Punjab Government to release retired IAS officer Sukhjit Singh Bains’ retiral benefits within two months.
Also Read : Next Director of SVPNPA: Is it Manoj Yadav ?
If a chargesheet has not been filed against a retired person in respect of an FIR registered during his service time, it cannot be construed that criminal proceedings are pending against him. Therefore, the CAT Bench stated that respondents cannot withhold retiral benefits solely on the basis of registration of an FIR.
A petition was filed by Bains under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, challenging the order dated May 27, 2021, in which his Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG)/Regular Pension/Leave Encashment had been withheld due to the pendency of a case related with the FIR registered on February 20, 2018.
In his petition, he requested that respondents be directed to release retiral benefits, along with consequential benefits, with interest of 18 percent.
