New Delhi : The Jharkhand High Court has ruled that a teacher who was arrested on charges of moral turpitude and subsequently compulsorily retired is still entitled to receive her pension and gratuity benefits. The court clarified that the mere pendency of criminal proceedings, without a conviction, cannot justify withholding statutory retirement dues.

Citing the relevant pension rules, the court emphasized that pension and gratuity are deferred payments for services rendered and cannot be arbitrarily denied. The ruling reinforces the principle that legal punishment should follow due process, and allegations alone cannot strip an employee of earned retirement benefits.

The case involved Shanti Devi, a former lecturer at Ranchi University. She was arrested in 2011 by the Vigilance Depart

See Full Page