#Public Service Pension

Chhattisgarh High Court quashes recovery of Rs. 2.13 lakh from a Class-III constable, reaffirming the Supreme Court’s Rafiq Masih judgment that prohibits recovery of erroneous payments from Group C/D employees. The ruling underscores natural justice and financial protection for low-income public servants, even in cases of prolonged administrative errors.

The Chhattisgarh High Court quashed the recovery of Rs. 60,510 from a retired Class-III employee, ruling that delay of over four years in detecting payroll errors bars recovery under the Rafiq Masih precedent. This reinforces that public employers cannot claw back overpayments after unreasonable delays, even after retirement, protecting low-income service retirees from financial hardship.