SC Grants Retiral Benefits to Employee After ST Caste Certificate Invalidated Post-25 Years of Service
Case Title: SHIRISH PANDHARINATH PATIL VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS.
Case No.: SLP (C) NO. 12938 OF 2020
Coram: Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi
Court Observation
“…having considered the facts and circumstances of the case and noting that the appellant entered service with respondent No. 3 in the year 1994 and continued in service until the date of his retirement on 30.06.2025, which is for more than three decades, we consider it appropriate to ensure that the appellant is not deprived of his retiral and pensionary benefits.”
“In view of the facts and circumstances of the present case, we are inclined to exercise our power under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, and accordingly, the service rendered by the appellant with respondent No. 3 from 21.10.1994 until his date of retirement on 30.06.2025 shall be protected for the limited purpose of computation and release of his retiral and pensionary benefits, in accordance with the applicable service rules.”
“It is clarified that the protection granted hereinabove shall not amount to validation or recognition of the claim of the appellant of belonging to the “Tokre Koli” Scheduled Tribe. Neither the appellant nor any member of his family shall be entitled to claim any future benefit on the basis of the invalidated caste certificate.”
