Moolchand Kaushal v. State of Chhattisgarh
Case brief
What is this about?
Chhattisgarh High Court, Bilaspur (Rakesh Mohan Pandey, J.; decided 17/2/2026; 2026:CGHC:8461, NAFR). Batch writ petitions (lead WPS 777/2021) by Shikshakarmis/L.B. teachers (appointed 1998–99) absorbed into School Education Department w.e.f. 01.07.2018, seeking counting of pre-absorption service for pension under OPS/Rules of 1976 and challenging rejection order dated 16.02.2021. Held: no settled State policy on 'date of appointment'; OPS restoration notifications (11.05.2022, 20.01.2023) silent on pre-absorption service; estoppel/approbate-reprobate plea rejected; Court declines to decide entitlement, remits to State for reasoned speaking-order policy decision within 120 days. Precedents relied on: D.S. Nakara (1983) 1 SCC 305; BALCO (2002) 2 SCC 333; Census Commissioner (2015) 2 SCC 796; Subbarayudu (2008) 14 SCC 702; P.N. Menon (1994) 4 SCC 68. Disposition: disposed, no costs.