Punjab & Haryana High Court Directs Employees Grievance Redressal Committee to Reconsider Daily Wage Service for Pension

Case Name: Bharat Singh v. Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited and Others
Date of Judgment: October 13, 2025
Citation: CWP-11327-2021 (O&M)
Bench: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar

Held: The Punjab & Haryana High Court directed that the petitioner’s claim for counting of daily wage service towards qualifying service for pension and retiral benefits be reconsidered by the Employees Grievance Redressal Committee constituted under the Haryana State Litigation Policy, 2025. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar observed that the Committee must pass a speaking and reasoned order after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and consider the matter in light of prior judgments including H.C. Sharma v. State of Haryana and Ranjit Singh v. State of Punjab.

Summary: The petitioner, Bharat Singh, sought quashing of Office Order No. 202 dated February 15, 2021, rejecting his claim for counting his daily wage service (from February 4, 1982, to May 4, 1993) towards qualifying service for pension. He contended that the rejection was arbitrary and contrary to law, as he had served continuously until his retirement as Lineman on February 28, 2020, and that the burden of maintaining service records rested with the department. The respondents argued that all admissible benefits had been released and that the petitioner had signed an undertaking not to claim further dues. During proceedings, both sides agreed that the matter could be referred to the Employees Grievance Redressal Committee established under the Haryana State Litigation Policy, 2025.

Decision: The High Court directed the Employees Grievance Redressal Committee to consider and decide the petitioner’s claim within three months from the receipt of the certified copy of the order, after providing an opportunity of hearing and in accordance with law. If found entitled, the petitioner shall be granted the due benefits forthwith. The writ petition was accordingly disposed of.