Authority: High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi

Order Date: 10 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Kashinath Ganguly, retired Supervisor (Mechanical) of Government Bacon Factory, Ranchi.
  • Respondents: State of Jharkhand; Director, Animal Husbandry Department; Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department; General Manager, Government Bacon Factory, Kanke; Accountant Officer, Office of the Accountant General; District Provident Fund Officer; Accountant, Accounts, Kanke Department of Animal Husbandry.
  • The petition seeks quashing of the order dated 04‑03‑2021 issued by the General Manager, Government Bacon Factory, which rejected the petitioner’s claim for pay‑scale refixation and pension.
  • Background: Joined in 1984; first promotion 01‑12‑1994 (Rs 2600‑75‑2900); pay‑scale fixed on 04‑04‑2005 at Rs 5000‑150‑8000; Finance Department resolution 13‑10‑2005 fixed first and second finance pay‑scales at Rs 6500‑10,500 and Rs 10,000‑15,200. Petitioner obtained re‑fixation to Rs 6500‑10,500 on 19‑10‑2006. On 16‑10‑2007 the General Manager reduced scale to Rs 5,500‑9,000, directing recovery of excess. Subsequent litigation led to earlier court orders directing pension after re‑fixation. An intra‑court appeal (L.P.A. 397 of 2018) remitted the matter for fresh consideration. Petitioner filed representation on 12‑02‑2021; respondents again rejected claim on 04‑03‑2021 relying on Department letters dated 03‑10‑2007 and 29‑05‑2020.
  • The Court observed that the impugned order was non‑reasoned, failed to consider the petitioner’s grounds, and was mechanically based on a prior departmental direction, contrary to the requirement for cogent reasons as per Supreme Court precedent (Kranti Associates v. Masood Ahmed Khan).

Final Outcome

  • The order dated 04‑03‑2021 is quashed and set aside.
  • The matter is remitted to the concerned respondent to pass a reasoned order, taking into account the petitioner’s representation dated 12‑02‑2021, within 12 weeks of receipt of this judgment.
  • Respondents are directed to refix the petitioner’s pay scale to Rs 6500‑10,500 as per the amended notification of 05‑02‑2007 and to fix his final pension accordingly.
  • Respondents are also ordered to pay the petitioner’s legal costs with 12 % interest in addition to statutory interest for undue delay and laches.

Topics: Employment Law, Pension