Shyam Babu Verma vs Union Of India on 8 February, 1994
(emphasis is ours)
It is apparent, that in Shyam Babu Verma's case (supra), the higher pay-
scale commenced to be paid erroneously in 1973. The same was sought to be
recovered in 1984, i.e., after a period of 11 years. In the aforesaid
circumstances, this Court felt that the recovery after several years of the
implementation of the pay-scale would not be just and proper. We therefore
hereby hold, recovery of excess payments discovered after five years would
be iniquitous and arbitrary, and as such, violative of Article 14 of the
Constitution of India.