#MACP Scheme

CAT Allahabad rules that recovery of excess MACP benefits from a Group C employee without establishing fraud, issuing a show-cause notice, or providing a hearing violates natural justice. The tribunal relies on the Supreme Court’s Rafiq Masih precedent, reinforcing that overpayments cannot be reclaimed mechanically, safeguarding retired employees from arbitrary financial setbacks.

CAT Lucknow rules that a judgment granting MACP benefits operates in rem, mandating its extension to all employees in identical positions unless barred by laches or acquiescence. This holding reinforces Article 14's equality principle in service law, impacting government employees seeking parity in pay-scale upgrades.

The Central Administrative Tribunal holds that administrative authorities cannot rely on ACRs previously set aside by court order to deny financial upgradation under the MACP Scheme, reinforcing that service benefits must be assessed on legally valid records alone. This protects public employees from retrospective penalization based on invalidated evaluations and strengthens the doctrine of consistency in administrative decision-making.

CAT holds recovery of excess MACP benefits after a decade is iniquitous; reaffirms Supreme Court's Rafiq Masih doctrine protecting retired employees from retrospective deductions.