Zeack News

New Delhi, Jun 19 : Government cannot withhold pension of its employees for being involved in a relative's business during service, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has said.

The Tribunal held that although it was not desirable for a government employee to be involved in business during his service, it cannot be termed a grave misconduct to justify punishment by witholding or reducing pension.



"It may not be desirable for a government servant to assist his wife and daughter and their business or to actually participate in the same and the same may be misconduct as well but it does not appear to be a case of grave misconduct," a bench comprising Chairman V K Bali and Member Ramesh Chandra Panda said.



The Tribunal's directions came on the plea of a retired IPS officer whose pension was reduced by 25 per cent as a punishment for running a business on behalf of his wife during his service.



"We are allowing this application on the ground that if the allegations regarding subject matter of the charge are not stated to be grave in departmental proceedings, the government has no right whatsoever to stop or make a cut in pension of retired IPS officer Harish Kumar," the CAT said. Ze