Pension Cuts under Proviso (a), Rule 10(1) of The West Bengal Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1971

Posted on by Rudrajyoti Nath Ray

Justices A.K. Goel and A.M. Khanwilkar have allowed State of West Bengal v. Aswini Kumar Mahato, [Civil Appeal No. 4689 of 2011] against a Calcutta High Court order in which it was held, once an employee retires on attaining age of superannuation, concerned authority has no jurisdiction to pass an order in a disciplinary proceeding since a master-servant relationship cannot exist after retirement.

An order of cut in pension is permissible as a punishment, under proviso (a), Rule 10(1) of The West Bengal Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1971, even after an employee retires on attaining age of superannuation provided he is found guilty of ‘grave misconduct or negligence’ during period of his service.

Proceedings may continue against an employee, after date of his retirement, on account of ‘grave misconduct or negligence’ and not only for pecuniary loss caused to Government. Obviously, if such grave misconduct or negligence entails pecuniary loss to Government, loss can also be ordered to be recovered from concerned employee.

Pension Cuts

'The Last Word' seeks to include not only wise and witty sayings but also curiosities. These words are not of obligation but of delight. I am not alone in my refusal to believe, law is tedious. For all who escaped these percipient eyes, mea culpa maxima. History, after all, has many cunning passages, contrived corridors and issues.