Mina Pandey @ Meena Pandey vs State of U.P. Thru… — Writ and Judicial Review | Allahabad HC (2026)

Mina Pandey @ Meena Pandey vs State of U.P. Thru… — Writ and Judicial Review | Allahabad HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petition disposed of with liberty to file a fresh representation before the District Development Officer, Sitapur (opposite party no.4) or any other competent authority; such representation to be decided expeditiously by a reasoned and speaking order within eight weeks from receipt of the representation along with a certified copy of this order.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner is entitled to re-fixation of her pay by regularising 359 days of absence — adjusting 224 days against Medical Leave (certificate dated 28.02.2015 for 160 days and application dated 19.08.2020 for 64 days) and the remaining 135 days against Earned Leave — adding all annual increments and paying arrears of salary and full pension, and compliance with Letter no 1870 dated 16.12.2025 of the District Development Officer, Sitapur, notwithstanding the State's stand that she never exercised the option under Regulation 474 of Civil Service Regulations.

Ratio / Principle

Considering the petitioner's grievance would entail factual aspects, the Court granted liberty to the petitioner to file a fresh representation before opposite party no.4, i.e. the District Development Officer, Sitapur, or any other competent authority.

Key takeaways

In case such a representation is filed, the authority concerned is required to decide it expeditiously by a reasoned and speaking order within a period of eight weeks from receipt of the representation of the petitioner along with a certified copy of the order.ratio¶17

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench), WRIT - A No. 1821 of 2026 (Manish Mathur, J.; February 18, 2026): The petitioner, Mina Pandey @ Meena Pandey, sought a mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing the opposite parties to re-fix her pay by regularising 359 days of absence — adjusting 224 days against Medical Leave (certificate dated 28.02.2015 for 160 days and application dated 19.08.2020 for 64 days) and the remaining 135 days against Earned Leave available in her account — adding all annual increments and paying arrears of salary and full pension, and to comply with Letter no 1870 dated 16.12.2025 passed by the District Development Officer, District Sitapur. Learned State Counsel placed on record written instructions dated 13.02.2026 stating that despite options being granted in terms of Regulation 474 of Civil Service Regulations, the petitioner had not submitted the option and was thus not entitled to the benefits. Holding that consideration of the grievance would entail factual aspects, the Court disposed of the petition, granting liberty to file a fresh representation before opposite party no.4 (District Development Officer, Sitapur) or any other competent authority, to be decided expeditiously by a reasoned and speaking order within eight weeks of receipt of the representation along with a certified copy of the order.

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD LUCKNOW

WRIT - A No. - 1821 of 2026

Mina Pandey @ Meena Pandey

.....Petitioner(s)

Versus

State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Rural Development Deptt. Lko. And 4 Others .....Respondent(s) Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Prashant Kumar, Avinash Pandey, Bhavya Prakash Shukla Counsel for Respondent(s) : C.S.C.

Court No. - 7

HON'BLE MANISH MATHUR, J.

Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned State Counsel appearing on behalf of the opposite parties.

Present petition under Article 226 of Constitution of India has been filed seeking the following main relief:-

"(i) A writ, order or direction in form of mandamus directing the opposite parties to re fix the Petitioner's pay by Regularizing the 359 days of absence by adjusting 224 days against Medical Leave based on the certificate dated 28.02.2015 for 160 days and application dated 19.08.2020 for 64 days and the remaining 135 days against Earned Leave available in the Petitioner's account adding all annual increments and to pay the Arrears of Salary and Full Pension accordingly.

(ii) A writ, order or direction in form of mandamus directing the Opposite parties to Regularize the 359 days of absence by adjusting 224 days against Medical Leave based on the certificate dated 28.02.2015 for 160 days and application dated 19.08.2020 for 64 days and the remaining 135 days against Earned Leave available in the Petitioner's account and comply the order Letter no 1870 dated 16.12.2025 passed by

WRIA No. 1821 of 2026

2

the District Development Officer District Sitapur."

Learned State Counsel has been provided written instructions dated 13.02.2026, a copy of which is taken on record and as per which despite options being granted to petitioner in terms of Regulation 474 of Civil Service Regulations, the option was not being submitted, as such she is not entitled to aforesaid benefits.

Since considering petitioner's grievance would entail factual aspects, liberty is granted to petitioner to file fresh representation before opposite party no.4 i.e. District Development Officer, Sitapur or any other competent authority. In case such a representation is filed, the same is required to be decided by authority concerned expeditiously by a reasoned and speaking order within a period of eight weeks from receipt of representation of petitioner along with a certified copy of this order.

With aforesai d direction(s), the petition stands finally disposed of .

(Manish Mathur,J.)

February 18, 2026 kvg/-

Digitally signed by :- GIREESAN KV High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench