Dr Tarun Kalra Vs State of Punjab and Others — Punjab & Haryana HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Dr Tarun Kalra Vs State of Punjab and Others — Punjab & Haryana HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to respondent Nos.2 to 5 to decide the legal notice dated 06.02.2023 (Annexure P-15) within 3 months, taking note of the judgment in CWP-14194-2021 (Naresh Kumar vs. State of Punjab and others); benefit to be granted forthwith if the petitioner is found entitled after notice and hearing; adverse orders to carry reasons, with liberty to seek legal redress.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents are to be directed to release the salary and other dues of the petitioner for the period he worked as Professor (Prosthodontics/Principal), alongwith interest.

Court's answer

Without commenting upon the merits of the case, the petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent Nos.2 to 5 with respect to the petitioner's legal notice dated 06.02.2023 (Annexure P-15).

Ratio / Principle

Respondent Nos.2 to 5 are directed to decide the legal notice dated 06.02.2023 (Annexure P-15) within a period of 3 months, taking note of the judgment in CWP-14194-2021 (Naresh Kumar vs. State of Punjab and others).

Key takeaways

If, after notice and hearing offered to the petitioner, he is found entitled, the benefit is to be granted forthwith.ratio¶¶20
Any order adverse to the petitioner's interest shall contain reasons, and the petitioner shall be free to seek legal redress thereupon.ratio¶¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition — Salary/dues — Dr Tarun Kalra sought release of salary and other dues for service as Professor (Prosthodontics/Principal) with interest. Legal notice dated 06.02.2023 (P-15) was answered by reply dated 28.02.2023 (P-16) stating the petitioner had left mid-session; rebuttal (P-17) and follow-up emails (P-18, P-19 dated 29.10.2023 and 11.01.2024) did not secure payment; reliance was placed on judgment dated 24.05.2022 in CWP-14194-2021, Naresh Kumar vs. State of Punjab and others, concerning the same institute. Without commenting on merits, the Court (Aman Chaudhary, J.) disposed of the petition, directing respondent Nos.2 to 5 to decide the legal notice within 3 months taking note of that judgment; if the petitioner is found entitled after notice and hearing, benefits are to be granted forthwith; any adverse order must contain reasons, leaving him free to seek legal redress.

1

CWP-4881-2025 (O&M)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

105

CWP-4881-2025 (O&M) Date of decision: 05.03.2025

Dr Tarun Kalra ...Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab and others ...Respondents

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY

********* Present: Mr. Atul Aggarwal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Arun Gupta, DAG, Punjab.

AMAN CHAUDHARY, J. (Oral)

Prayer made in the present petition is for directing the respondents to release the salary and other dues of the petitioner for the period he worked as a Professor (Prosthodontics/Principal) alongwith interest.

Learned counsel submits that the legal notice had been submitted on 06.02.2023, Annexure P-15, with regard to the release of the arrears of salary which though was responded to vide reply dated 28.02.2023, Annexure P-16, stating therein that the petitioner had left the midsession, to which rebuttal by way of reply, Annexure P-17 was also made, whereafter despite number of emails sent reiterating the request appended as Annexures P-18 and P-19 dated 29.10.2023 and 11.01.2024, the dues have not been released by respondent Nos.2 to 4. Reliance is also placed on the judgment dated 24.05.2022, Annexure P-20, wherein CWP-14194-2021 titled as ‘Naresh Kumar vs. State of Punjab and others’ relating to the same institute, was disposed of favourably.

In view of the above and without commenting upon the merits of the case, this petition is hereby disposed of with a direction to respondent

HAMANT 2025.03.06 16:47 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

2

CWP-4881-2025 (O&M)

Nos.2 to 5 to decide the legal notice dated 06.02.2023, Annexure P-15, taking note of the aforesaid judgment, within a period of 3 months, which this Court has no reason to believe the authorities would not address in a just, fair and reasonable manner. Upon doing so, after notice and hearing offered to him and if found entitled, grant the benefit forthwith. Needless to say, if the orders are adverse to his interest, the same shall contain reasons and the petitioner shall be free to seek legal redress thereupon.

		(AMAN C JU	HAUDHARY) DGE
05.03.2025
Hemant
	Whether speaking/reasoned	: Yes	/ No
	Whether reportable	: Yes	/ No

HAMANT 2025.03.06 16:47 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document