LEGAL

‘Pension not bounty’: Calling out 30

Upholding 9% interest on delayed retiral dues to a pensioner, the Chhattisgarh High Court's ruling says administrative delay cannot deny employees their rightful benefits. Chhattisgarh High Court news: The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that pension is not a bounty and the state cannot deny rightf...

By The Indian Express

• March 18, 2026 at 10:58 AM

‘Pension not bounty’: Calling out 30 Photo: The Indian Express

Upholding 9% interest on delayed retiral dues to a pensioner, the Chhattisgarh High Court's ruling says administrative delay cannot deny employees their rightful benefits.

Chhattisgarh High Court news: The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that pension is not a bounty and the state cannot deny rightful dues to a retired employee or his family due to its own failure to conclude departmental proceedings in time, affirming interest on pensionary benefits delayed by nearly three decades.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal was hearing the state’s appeal against a single judge verdict granting 9 per cent interest on the release of pension of a government employee after 23 years.

“Administrative inefficiency or delay in completing departmental proceedings cannot operate to the detriment of the retired employee or his family,” the court said on March 17.

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Interest justified on grounds of equity
State’s defence: Statutory bar on gratuity
Vineet Upadhyay is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, where he leads specialized coverage of the Indian judicial system.

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