Union of India v. J.K. Tah
Case brief
What is this about?
High Court of Chhattisgarh, Bilaspur (DB: Justices Sanjay S. Agrawal & Amitendra Kishore Prasad), WPS No. 3146 of 2025, decided 24.03.2026 (NAFR). Recovery of excess House Rent Allowance (Rs. 89,430/-) from a retired Group 'C' postal assistant held impermissible per State of Punjab v. Rafiq Masih (2015) 4 SCC 334; also citing Thomas Daniel v. State of Kerala (2022) SCC OnLine SC 536, Syed Abdul Qadir v. State of Bihar (2009) 3 SCC 475 and Jogeswar Sahoo (2025 SCC OnLine SC 724); no proof of fraud/misrepresentation; recovery order by incompetent authority is a nullity; FR & SR Pt. IV Rule 4(b)(i) on HRA distinguished from ground reality of uninhabitable, unallotted premises; Art. 226 review of CAT Jabalpur O.A. No. 203/688/2023. Outcome: writ petition dismissed, Tribunal order dated 31.01.2025 affirmed — refund of recovered amount with 6% per annum interest stands; no costs.