Retirement, release or discharge

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

1. Union of India vs Rajeev Moitra

   Supreme Court of India 29 Jan 2019 Binding (Supreme Court) Reportable

   Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

   The right to withdraw from an approved application for Premature Separation from Service in the Indian Air Force is neither absolute nor unconditional. While officers have a substantive right to continue in service until superannuation, once they apply for PSS under the Human Resource Policy and their application is approved, the withdrawal of such approval is subject to the conditions stipulated in Paragraph 18 of the policy, namely that withdrawal is permitted only as an exception and on 'extreme compassionate grounds'. The general principle of civil service law permitting withdrawal of prospective resignations before effective date does not apply to the Armed Forces without modification, because: (1) service in the Armed Forces operates under a distinct constitutional and statutory framework centered on at-pleasure tenure and organizational efficiency; (2) the Human Resource Policy, validly issued under delegated authority, explicitly conditions withdrawal and restricts it to exceptional circumstances; (3) officers who seek benefit of the PSS policy cannot later repudiate its terms, including the withdrawal restriction in Paragraph 18; and (4) the operational exigencies of the Armed Forces, including manpower planning and allocation of exit vacancies, necessitate limiting unilateral withdrawal rights. Whether grounds cited meet the 'extreme compassionate grounds' criterion is for competent authority to determine bona fide, and courts should not fault a fair and bona fide assessment made in light of service requirements.

   On this section: Provides that any person subject to the Act may be retired, released or discharged in manner prescribed by rules; enables regulatory framework for service cessation

   Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.