The bench headed by Justice SD Anand, observed that the bench was of the considered view that the competent authority could not have directed withholding of pension on permanent basis. Rathore’s pension was withheld by the Central government in June last year following his conviction in the Ruchika molestation case by a Chandigarh court. The bench said that it had no hesitation invalidation of the impugned order.
“The applicant shall be entitled to whatever consequential relief may be available to him with the invalidation of the impugned order,” the bench said.
Rathore in his petition had compared his case with that of former Punjab DGP KPS Gill also convicted on charges of molestation. He told the court that no order for withholding the pension of KPS Gill had been passed.
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