Supreme Court (Image credit: ANI) NEW DELHI: Observing that pension is not a “bounty but an enforceable constitutional right” and a hard-earned benefit amassed by an employee by virtue of long and continuous service, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a temporary casual labourer in a govt department would be entitled to pensionary benefits on superannuation even in the absence of regularisation of the job.It took a widow from Bihar, whose husband worked as a casual worker in a post office for three decades, to fight an 18-year legal battle through three layers of litigation – central administrative tribunal, Patna HC and SC – to get the pensionary benefit as the apex court rejected the Centre’s plea and passed an order in her favour. It refused to give credence to govt’s plea that it would cause a financial burden. “Pension is not a matter of grace dependent upon the financial convenience of the employer, but a deferred wage earned through long years of service,” it said.A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and A G Masih said employees who have rendered continuous and essential service over long periods cannot be denied benefits available to regular employees merely on account of nomenclature. It said the govt should act as a model employer. “Any classification, resulting in denial of any benefits to a class of employees who are otherwise similarly situated in terms of duties and responsibilities, would fall foul of constitutional ethos,” the bench said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Apologise Immediately’: Nepal Opposition Rips Into PM Balen Shah Over India Border RemarkAfter Amit Shah Meeting, Annamalai Exit Speculation Grows As New Party Talk IntensifiesCBSE-Coempt Dispute Escalates Amid Conflict Of Interest Claims And Strong Denials’Even Hitler Did Not…’: Mamata Slams BJP Over ‘Police Raj’ In Bengal, Attack On Abhishek Banerjee’Cooker Only’ Audio Row Deepens Congress Rift As Zameer Denies Viral Recording Claims | WatchSanjay Singh Confronts Police Officials During Student Interaction Over Exam Paper LeaksMonkey Snatches ₹2 Lakh Bag In UP Court, Climbs Tree And Showers Currency Notes From AboveIndia-US Trade Deal Nears Finish Line, First Tranche May Be Signed Soon: Piyush GoyalTMC Expels Two MLAs, Ritabrata Banerjee And Sandipan Saha, Amid Signature Mismatch RowRahul Gandhi flags ‘phone-scanned’ answer sheets as CBSE-OSM tender row deepens123PhotostoriesOut of the shadows: The Women who made Madhubani art globalTracing the Indian Art forms that conquered the worldCucumber (Kheera) vs Snake Cucumber (Kakdi): Which is more hydrating and how much to consume dailyKatrina Kaif’s post-pregnancy style era is here, and it starts with a killer black overcoatHollywood’s ugliest custody battles: From Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to Rob Kardashian and Blac ChynaIs Anushka Sharma’s white ensemble RCB’s new lucky charm? A throwback to her 2025 IPL finale lookTop 10 Indian cities where property prices have risen the most in 2026From the elite class’s hobby to contemporary decorative: How did bonsai making turn into a modern-day art form?Love quote of the day by Louis de Bernières: ‘Love is not breathlessness; it’s not excitement’How Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar’s friendship exploded over ‘Don 3’: Inside Rs 45 crore fallout that led to FWICE directive123Hot PicksVirat KohliTim David IPL FineVinod KhoslaAbhijeet DipkeMike Vrabel and Dianna ScandalShiva SenaLauren FryerTop TrendingMamata BanerjeeDelhi ITO FireWWE Clash Results and HighlightsGavin Yates-LyonsNorway ChessSupreme CourtMumbai Air India ColonyBSEB Bihar Sakashmta Pariksha Admit CardNTANEET Paper Leak
NEW DELHI: Observing that pension is not a “bounty but an enforceable constitutional right” and a hard-earned benefit amassed by an employee by virtue of long and continuous service, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a temporary casual labourer in a govt department would be entitled to pensionary benefits on superannuation even in the absence of regularisation of the job.It took a widow from Bihar, whose husband worked as a casual worker in a post office for three decades, to fight an 18-year legal battle through three layers of litigation – central administrative tribunal, Patna HC and SC – to get the pensionary benefit as the apex court rejected the Centre’s plea and passed an order in her favour. It refused to give credence to govt’s plea that it would cause a financial burden. “Pension is not a matter of grace dependent upon the financial convenience of the employer, but a deferred wage earned through long years of service,” it said.A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and A G Masih said employees who have rendered continuous and essential service over long periods cannot be denied benefits available to regular employees merely on account of nomenclature. It said the govt should act as a model employer. “Any classification, resulting in denial of any benefits to a class of employees who are otherwise similarly situated in terms of duties and responsibilities, would fall foul of constitutional ethos,” the bench said.
