Union of India v. Ashwani Kumar Soni

Delhi High Court · 19 May 2023 · 2023:DHC:3487-DB

V. Kameswar Rao; Tara Vitasta Ganju

W.P.(C) 6783/2023

2023:DHC:3487-DB

administrative appeal_allowed Significant

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court modified the Tribunal's order allowing LTC reimbursement for tickets purchased from unauthorized agents but permitted recovery of the excess amount claimed by the employee.

Full Text

2023:DHC:3487-DB

W.P.(C) 6783/2023 Page 1
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: May 19, 2023

W.P.(C) 6783/2023 & CAV 263/2023 & CM Appls. 26518-
26519/2023 UNION OF INDIA & ORS. ..... Petitioners
Through: Mr. Arnav Kumar, CGSC with Mr. Gurdas Khurana and Mr. Prabhakar, Advs.

VERSUS

SHRI ASHWANI KUMAR SONI..... Respondent
Through: Appearance not given

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. KAMESWAR RAO
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU V. KAMESWAR RAO, J. (ORAL)

CAV 263/2023
As learned counsel appears for the respondent / caveator, caveat stands discharged.
CM Appl. 26519/2023 Exemption allowed subject to all just exceptions.
Application stands disposed of.

W.P.(C) 6783/2023

JUDGMENT

1. The challenge in this petition is to an order dated October 18, 2022, W.P.(C) 6783/2023 Page 2 whereby the Tribunal has allowed the OA filed by the respondent herein by stating in paragraph 5 to 8 as under:

“5. The short question arises before this Tribunal is whether the applicant is entitled to get the amount of LTC claim or not ? 6. To support his claim, learned counsel for the applicant mainly relied upon decisions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and High Court respectively, which are enlisted below:-

(1) In State of Punjab & Ors. Vs. Rafiq Masih (White Waster) & Ors. (2015) 4 SCC 334 and (2) In W.P. (C) No. 8985/2019, titled as Girish Chand and Ors. Vs. U.O.I.;

7. It is evident that the applicant admittedly travelled to Srinagar in accordance with special rules/guidelines framed by the Government in this regard, but he did not purchase the tickets from the aforesaid authorized agents on which ground the respondents have rejected the claim of the applicant and directed him to deposit the amount spent on air tickets along with penal interest. It is seen that such a plea of concerned departments has been turned down by various High Courts and allowed the payment of the amount spent by the employees in purchasing the tickets. It is also noticed that this Tribunal has also taken similar view in Ajay Kumar & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors. [OA 257/2021 decided on 05.02.2021].

8. In view of the above, this Tribunal feels that the OA deserves to be allowed in terms of the above mentioned decisions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as High Court. The same is accordingly allowed and the impugned order dated 27.02.2019 stands set aside. Consequently, the respondents are directed to refund the amount so received from the applicant, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.”

2. The submission of the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners is W.P.(C) 6783/2023 Page 3 even assuming that the respondent could have purchased the ticket from an agent who is not authorized, still the petitioners herein are entitled to claim the difference of cost of the ticket.

3. It is his submission, during the inquiry it came to petitioner’s knowledge that against the ticket fare of ₹18,000/-, the respondent herein has claimed an amount of ₹55,146/-. This according to him is a fraudulent claim for which the proceedings can be initiated. He submits, the respondent having retired, the proceedings are not being initiated and in any case, petitioners are liable to recover the difference of amount.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent does not dispute the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioners with regard to the recovery.

5. In view of the above the petitioners are allowed to recover the difference of the fare as would have paid to the authorized agent and the claim now made by the respondent.

6. With the above the impugned order of the Tribunal is modified and the petition is disposed of. CM Appl. 26518/2023 Dismissed as infructuous.

V. KAMESWAR RAO, J

TARA VITASTA GANJU, J MAY 19, 2023

Union of India v. Ashwani Kumar Soni

AI Summary

Full Text

JUDGMENT

Contact Us for a Free Consultation