Sri M Shivalingaiah v. the Union of India
Service law – withholding of retirement/earned leave benefits – Writ petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India
Case brief
What is this about?
Earned leave withheld after superannuation; retired All India Radio employee; recovery of Rs.3,00,000/- loan by co-operative thrift and credit society (respondent No.5/Prasar Bharati circle); arbitral award dated 27.11.2019 dismissing recovery claim as barred by limitation; award attained finality; undertaking alleged to be executed under pressure held not acceptable; withholding of Rs.1,16,200/- held arbitrary and erroneous; Annexures A (letter dated 06.03.2023) and B (communication dated 02.02.2023) quashed; direction to consider representation dated 05.10.2023 and release Rs.1,16,200/- within one month; no interest granted; Articles 226 and 227; writ of mandamus; High Court of Karnataka; Ashok S.Kinagi, J.; WP No. 23591 of 2023 (S-RES).
What did the court decide?
Writ petition allowed; Annexures A and B quashed; respondent No.2 directed to consider the representation dated 05.10.2023 and release the withheld earned leave amount of Rs.1,16,200/- within one month from receipt of a copy of the order; pending IAs disposed of. The prayer for interest at 14% per annum was not granted in the operative order.