Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 18 August 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Union of India and two officers of Western Railway (Appellants) vs. Jagdish Kumar Madha\u200bji and others (Respondents).
  • The appeal (Civil Appeal No. 639/2017) was filed under special leave granted on 10 January 2017, challenging the Gujarat High Court Division Bench judgment dated 20 March 2013.
  • The High Court had allowed the Special Civil Application filed by the first respondent, quashing the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order dated 7 October 2004 and directing reinstatement of the respondents within six weeks.
  • The CAT order, originally signed by Jatinder Kaur (digitally signed on 19 August 2026 – signature not verified), had dismissed the original applications of the first respondent under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, and similarly dismissed applications of respondents 2‑6.
  • Respondents were reinstated in service following the High Court order; the Supreme Court later issued an interim stay on 13 September 2013 and recorded reinstatement on 11 November 2013, restraining payment of back wages pending further orders.
  • The dispute centered on the denial of back wages for the period of dismissal (2002) to reinstatement (2013) and entitlement to retirement benefits.
  • Counsel for the appellants included Mr. K.M. Nataraj (A.S.G.), Ms. Shradha Deshmukh, Mr. Sarthak Karol, Mr. Rohit Khare, Mr. S.K. Gupta, and Mr. Amrish Kumar. Counsel for the respondents included Mr. Ashutosh Ghade, Ms. Saloni Meshram, and Ms. Sneha D. Balapure.
  • An interlocutory application (IA No. 236501/2026) seeking permission to file additional documents was noted on the same hearing date.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court disposed of the appeal, denying back wages to the respondents for the 2002‑2013 period while confirming their entitlement to retirement benefits in accordance with law.
  • No costs were awarded to either party.
  • The order explicitly states it shall not be read as precedent for future cases.
  • All pending interlocutory applications, if any, were also disposed of.

Topics: Employment Law, Railway Service