The State Of Jharkhand And Ors. vs Padmalochan Kalindi And Anr. on 11 October, 2007
The decision in the case of Smt. Girish Kumari Prasad, supra, has absolutely no conflict with the decision of the Division Bench in State of Jharkhand and Ors. v. Baleshwar Singh and Anr. (Hon'bles S.J. Mukhopadhaya & Permod Kohli, J) or any other decision of this Court referred to above. In the instant case learned Single Judge has decided the impugned order holding that no amount can be recovered from the pension except by an order passed under Rule 43(b) of the Bihar Pension Rules, 1950 as in the instant case, neither the State Government nor the competent authority has initiated any proceeding under Rule 43(b) of the said Rules while the petitioner was in service and even after 16 years of his retirement and even the proceeding under Rule 43(b) of the said Rules is barred by limitation and the same cannot be initiated now. He further held that no recovery can be made from the pension of the petitioner including the provisional/final pension or from the gratuity. Learned Single Judge has noticed that even recovery by way of suit and certificate proceeding is also time barred after lapse of 16 years from the retirement of the petitioner. The impugned order dated 2.9.97 (Annexure-2) issued by the Accountant General as well as the letter dated 3.1.05 (Annexure-3) issued by the Block Development Officer, Chandankeyari seeking recovery were quashed and the respondents were directed to refund the amount already recovered from the petitioner. The respondents were also directed to finalize the pension of the writ petitioner within the time prescribed and to pay the admitted arrears with interest @ 5 % with cost. The said order of the learned Single Jude has been passed after taking into consideration the relevant provisions and the same is in consonance with the other decisions of the Apex Court as well as of this Court, as noticed above. We find no illegality or infirmity in the impugned order of the learned Single Judge. There is, thus, no merit in this letters patent appeal which is accordingly dismissed with cost of Rs. 10,000/- to be paid by the appellants to the 1st respondent.