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STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ETC. vs. RAFIQ MASIH (WHITE WASHER) ETC.

SCR Citation: [2014] 13 S.C.R. 1343
Year/Volume: 2014/ Volume 13
Date of Judgment: 18 December 2014
Petitioner: STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ETC.
Disposal Nature: Appeals Disposed Off
Neutral Citation: 2014 INSC 896
Judgment Delivered by: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar
Respondent: RAFIQ MASIH (WHITE WASHER) ETC.
Case Type: CIVIL APPEAL /11527/2014
Order/Judgment: Judgment
1. Headnote

Service Law — Recovery of monetary benefits — Wrongly extended to the employees — Due to unintentional mistake committed by the employer and not on account of any misrepresentation or fraud committed by the employees — Propriety of the recovery — Held: In view of the doctrine of equality enshrined u/Arts. 14 to 18 and 38, 39, 39A, 43 and 46 of the Constitution, equity dnd good conscience has to be basis of all governmental actions, in the matter of livelihood of the people — Recovery of monetary benefit given in excess of entitlement to the employee would be permissible in law, so long it is equitous and does not have harsh and arbitrary effect on the employee — Such recovery would be impermissible in cases of Class Ill and Class IV employees; retired employees or due to retire within one year, where the excess payment was made for a period in excess of five years, where employee has wrongfully been required to discharge duty of a higher post and has been paid accordingly; and in any other case where the court finds that recovery would be iniquitous or harsh or arbitrary to such an extent to outweigh the equitable balance of employer's right to recover — In the present case, recovery was impermissible - Constitution of India, 1950 — Arts. 14 to 18, 38, 39, 39A, 43 and 46 — Equity.

2. Case referred
3. Act
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4. Keyword
  • Service Law
  • Recovery of monetary benefits
  • Wrongly extended to the employees
5. Equivalent citation
    Citation(s) 2015 AIR 696 = 2015 (4) SCC 334 = 2015 (4) Suppl. SCC 334 = 2015 (1) JT 95 = 2015 (1) Suppl. JT 95 = 2014 (14) SCALE 300