/2022 INSC 0406/
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4073 OF 2022
Union of India & Ors.           ..Appellants
Versus
Anil Prasad    ..Respondent
J U D G M E N T 
M. R. Shah, J.
1. Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned
judgment   and   order   dated   05.10.2021   passed   by   the   High
Court   of   Delhi   at   New   Delhi   in   Writ   Petition   (C)   No.2135   of
2020   by   which   the   High   Court   has   allowed   the   said   writ
petition preferred by the respondent herein and has held that
the   respondent   –   original   writ   petitioner   being   retired   Army
Force   Personnel   upon   re­appointment   in   the   government
service,   would   be   entitled   to   his   basic   pay   being   fixed   at   par
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with   his   last   drawn   pay,   the   Union   of   India   and   others   have
preferred the present appeal.
2. The  respondent  –  original  writ petitioner  was a  Major  in
the   Indian   Army   and   was   discharged   from   service   on
15.07.2007.   He was appointed as an Assistant Commandant
(Medical   Officer)   in   the   Central   Reserve   Police   Force,   in   the
pay scale of Rs.15600 ­ 39100 with grade pay of Rs.5400.  The
respondent – original petitioner claimed that as on the date of
his   discharge   from   the   Indian   Army,   he   was   drawing   pay   of
Rs.28340 with grade pay of Rs.6600, the same was entitled to
be   protected   in   terms   of   Para   8   of   the   Central   Civil   Services
(fixation   of   Pay   of   Re­employed   Pensioners)   Order,   1986
(hereinafter   referred   to   as   ‘CCS   Order’).       The   original   writ
petitioner made a representation which came to be rejected by
an   order   dated   24.04.2019.     Thereafter   the   original   writ
petitioner   preferred   the   writ   petition   before   the   High   Court
claiming that he would be entitled to his basic pay being fixed
at par  with his last drawn pay.   Before the High Court heavy
reliance   was   placed   on   the   decision   of   the   Division   Bench   of
the   High   Court   in   the   case   of   Government   of   India   &   Ors.
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Vs.   Captain   (Retd.)   Kapil   Chaudhary   in   Writ   Petition   (C)
No.2331 of 2012.    By the impugned judgment and order, the
High Court has allowed the said writ petition and has directed
the   appellants   to   rework   the   pay   fixation   of   the   original   writ
petitioner by holding that upon reappointment in government
service the original writ petitioner being a retired Armed Force
Personnel would be entitled to his basic pay being fixed at par
with his last drawn pay.
2.1 Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned
judgment and order passed by the High Court in holding that
on   reappointment   in   the   government   service   the   original   writ
petitioner would be entitled to his basic pay being fixed at par
with   his   last   drawn   pay,   the   Union   of   India   and   others   have
preferred this appeal.
3. Ms.   Aishwarya   Bhati,   learned   ASG,   appearing   on   behalf
of Union of India – appellant herein has vehemently submitted
that   the   impugned   judgment   and   order   passed   by   the   High
Court is on a misreading of Para 8 of CCS Orders.
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3.1 It   is   submitted   that   as   per   Para   8   of   the   CCS   Order   on
reappointment,   an   Emergency   Commissioned   Officer   and
Short  Service  Commissioned  Officer  who  join   the  government
service   will   be   granted   advance   increments   equal   to   the
completed   years   of   service   rendered   by   him   in   Armed   Forces
on   the   basic   pay   scale   which   will   be   equal   to   or   higher   than
the   pay   scale   of   the   re­employed   organization   i.e.   the   civil
post/the   government   post   and   not   on   the   last   drawn   pay   by
the personnel in the Armed Forces.
3.2 It   is   submitted   that   Para   8   of   the   CCS   Order   does   not
speak   about   retaining   of   the   last   drawn   basic   pay   or   fixation
at the rate of last drawn pay.
3.3 It is submitted that if the claim made by the respondent
is   allowed   and   it   is   held   that   on   re­employment   his   pay
fixation   should   be   the   last   drawn   pay   in   that   case   it   violates
the statutory provision of Para 8 of the CCS Order.  
Making   above   submission,   it   is   prayed   to   allow   the
present appeal.
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4. Present   appeal   is   vehemently   opposed   by   Shri   Vinay
Kumar   Garg,   learned   Senior   Advocate   appearing   on   behalf   of
the   respondent.     It   is   vehemently   submitted   by   Shri   Garg,
learned Senior Advocate for the respondent that the impugned
judgment and order passed by the High Court is absolutely in
consonance with Para 8 of the CCS Order.
4.1 It   is   submitted   that   the   respondent   was   working   as   a
Captain in the Army Medical Corps of the Indian Army.  In the
year   2007,   CRPF   issued   advertisement   inviting   applications
for   the   post   of   Assistant   Commandant   (Medical   Officer)   to
which   the   respondent   applied.     In   the   meantime,   vide   order
dated   15.07.2007,   the   respondent   was   released   from   the
Indian Army.  It is submitted that at the time of his discharge
from the Indian Army in the rank of Major, his last pay was in
the pay scale of Rs.15600 – 39100 and was drawing Rs.28340
as   basic   pay   and  grade   pay   at  Rs.6600.    It   is   submitted   that
subsequently   he   was   appointed   as   Assistant   Commandant
(Medical   Officer)   in   the   year   2009   in   the   pay   scale   of
Rs.15600­ 39100 with grade pay at Rs.5400.   It is contended
that on re­employment his pay scale was required to be fixed
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at par with the pay  scale he was drawing  while in the Indian
Army   Service and  as per  the  last drawn  pay.    It  is submitted
that   as   per   Para   8   of   CCS   Order,   though   the   appellants
granted   six   increments   i.e.   for   the   number   of   years   the
respondent served in the Indian Army, however, the same was
granted   on   the   pay   wrongly   fixed   by   the   appellants   which
ought  to   have   been   fixed  at   Rs.28340  i.e.  the   pay   last  drawn
by the respondent in the rank of Major in the Army. 
4.2 It   is   submitted   that   his   grade   pay   was   also   fixed   at
Rs.5400   instead   of   Rs.6600,   which   was   lower   than   what   the
respondent   was   receiving   at   the   time   when   he   was   in   the
Indian   Army.     It   is   urged   submitted   that   on   a   true
interpretation  of  Para  8 of  CCS  Order,  the High  Court  rightly
observed and held that the respondent shall be entitled to the
pay scale as per last drawn salary while working in the Indian
Army.  Hence, no error has been committed by the High Court
in holding so is the submission.  
Making   the   above   submissions,   it   is   prayed   to   dismiss
the present appeal.
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5. We have heard learned counsel for the respective parties
at length.
5.1 The   short   question   which   is   posed   for   consideration
before   this   Court   is   whether   on   re­employment   in   the
government   service,   an   employee   who   was   serving   in   the
Indian Army/in the Armed Forces shall be entitled to his pay
scales at par with his last drawn pay?
5.2 While   answering   the   aforesaid   question   Para   8   of   CCS
Order   which   is   relevant   for   our   purpose   is   required   to   be
referred to which is as follows:
“8.     Emergency   Commissioned   Officers   and
Short Service Commissioned Officers:
Emergency   Commissioned   Officers   and   Short
Service   Commissioned   Officers   who   joined   pre­
officers   who   joined   pre­commissioned   training   or
were   commissioned   after   10.01.1968   may,   on   their
appointment   in   Government   service   to   unreserved
vacancies,   may   be   granted   advance   increments
equal to the completed y ears of service rendered by
them in Armed Forces on a   basic pay (inclusive of
deferred pay but excluding other emoluments) equal
to   or   higher   than   the   minimum   of   the   scale
attached   to   the   civil   post   in   which   they   are
employed.     The   pay   so   arrived   at   should   not,
however,   exceed   the   basic   pay   (including   the
deferred   pay   but   excluding   other   emoluments)   last
drawn by them in the Armed Forces."    
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5.3 On a plain reading of the above provision an Emergency
Commissioned   Officer   and   a   Short   Service   Commissioned
Officer   working   in   the   Armed   Forces   on   his   employment   to   a
civil post shall be entitled to advance increments equal to the
completed years of service rendered in the Armed Forces on a
basic   pay   equal   to   or   higher   than   the   minimum   of   the   scale
attached   to   the   civil   post   in   which   they   are   employed.
However,   the   pay   arrived   at   should   not   exceed   the   basic   pay
last drawn by them in the Armed Forces.  Therefore, on a true
interpretation  of  Para  8 on  re­employment  in  the  government
service,   an   employee   working   with   the   Armed   Forces,   on   re­
employment   shall   be   entitled   to   advance   increments   equal   to
the  completed years of service rendered by  him  in the  Armed
Forces on a basic pay equal to or higher than the minimum of
the scale attached to the civil post in which he is employed.  
Para 8 of the CCS Order  makes a reference to two rates
of pay in case of emergency commissioned officers and short­
service   commissioned   officers   being   appointed   in   the
government   service:   First,   they   may   be   granted   advance
increment equal to the completed years of service rendered by
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them   in   the   armed   forces   on   a   basic   pay   equal   to   or   higher
than   the   minimum   of   the   scale   attached   to   the   civil   posts   in
which they are employed.  The pay is to be fixed with reference
to   the   scale   attached   to   the   civil   posts   in   which   they   are
employed;   Second,   while   computing   the   pay   in   the   aforesaid
manner  it should not exceed the basic pay last drawn by them
in   the   armed   forces.   In   another   words,   while   computing   the
pay   of   the   said   officers   who   joined   the   civil   posts   their   pay
cannot exceed last drawn pay by them in the armed forces. In
case it exceeds then it is capped to the last drawn pay in the
armed forces. Therefore, a claim for the last drawn pay in the
armed forces is not a matter of right. 
Applying   the   above   in   the   present   case,   it   is   noted   that
the   respondent   was   fixed   at   the   entry   level   of   PB­3
(Rs.15,600–Rs.39,100)   in   the   armed   forces   and   six   advance
increments   equal   to   the   number   of   years   the   respondent
served   in   the   Indian   Army   was   added   to   the   basic   pay   i.e.
Rs.15,600/­   =   Rs.19,600/­.   The   Grade   Pay   fixed   in   the   civil
post   is   Rs.5,400/­   and   hence   a   total   of   Rs.25,080/­   was   the
computed   pay   in   the   civil   post.   The   said   pay   of   Rs.25,080/­
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does  not  exceed  the   pay  last  drawn  by  the  respondent  in   the
armed forces. Hence, the pay so computed is just and proper. 
Para   8   of   the   CCS   Order   does   not   indicate   that   the   pay
last   drawn   by   the   respondent   in   the   armed   forces   should   be
the pay to be computed when he joined the civil post. There is
no entitlement of pay protection under para 8 of the CCS. The
manner of computation of pay as envisaged under para 8 also
clearly stipulates that the pay so arrived at  should not exceed
the basic pay   (including the deferred pay but excluding  other
emoluments) last drawn by the respondent in the armed force.
That   does   not   mean   that   the   respondent   is   entitled   to   a   pay
equal to what was last drawn by him in the armed force. 
Also,  para   8   of   the   CCS  Order   makes   a   reference   to   the
civil   post   in   which   the   personnel   of   armed   force   is   to   be
employed with reference to the minimum scale of pay attached
to   the   civil   post   and   while   computing   the   pay   scale   the   last
drawn   pay   in   the   armed   force   has   no   relevance   in   the   sense
that there is no pay protection that can be sought by  the ex­
personnel of armed force. The reference to the last drawn pay
in the armed forces is only to ensure that the pay computed in
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the civil post in the manner envisaged in para 8 of CCS Order
does not exceed the basic pay (including the deferred pay but
excluding   other   emoluments)   last   drawn   by   the   personnel   in
the   armed   forces.   For   example,   if   the   minimum   of   the   scale
attached to the civil post is higher than the last drawn pay of
the personnel in the armed force and while computing the pay
for   the   civil   post   as   envisaged   under   para   8   of   CCS   if   it   so
exceeds then possibly the last drawn pay in the armed forces
could   be   paid.   The   said   Rule   proscribes   fixation   of   a   pay
exceeding   the   basic   pay   (including   the   deferred   pay   but
excluding   other   emoluments)   last   drawn   by   the   personnel   in
the   armed   forces   in   respect   of   the   civil   post   to   which   an   ex­
armed   force   personnel   is   appointed.   Thus,   in   a   case   where
computation   of   pay   exceeds   last   drawn   pay   in   the   armed
forces then, in such a situation possibly the last drawn pay of
such a personnel can be fixed.
In   the   present   case   while   serving   in   the   Armed   Forces
respondent   was   in   the   pay   scale   of   Rs.15600   –   39100.     The
post  on  which  he  was re­employed in  the government service
also   carries   the   pay   scale   of   Rs.15600   –   39100   and   he   has
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been allowed advance increments of six years as he completed
six years of service in the Armed Forces.   However, his grade
pay   has   been   fixed   at   Rs.5400   being   the   grade   pay   which   is
available for the civil post.
5.4 Therefore,   the   pay   fixation   of   the   respondent   in   the
government service was absolutely in consonance with para 8
of  the   CCS   Order   1986.     Para   8   does   not  provide   that   on   re­
employment   in   Government   Services   a   retired   Armed   Force
personnel would be entitled to his basic pay being fixed at par
with his last drawn pay.   Holding so will violate para 8 of the
CCS   Order.     Under   the   circumstances   the   High   Court   has
committed   a   grave   error   in   observing   and   holding   that   the
retired   Armed   Forces   personnel   on   re­appointment   in   the
government service would be entitled to the last drawn pay as
Armed   Forces   personnel.     Therefore,   the   impugned   judgment
and   order   passed   by   the   High   Court   is   unsustainable   being
contrary to para 8 of the CCS Order, 1986.
6. In   view   of   the   above   and   for   the   reason   stated   above,
present appeal succeeds.   The impugned judgment and order
passed   by   the   High   Court   is   hereby   quashed   and   set   aside.
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Consequently,   the   writ   petition   preferred   by   the   respondent
before the High Court is dismissed.   However, in the facts and
circumstances of the case, there shall be no order as to costs.
…………………………………J.
                  (M. R. SHAH)
…………………………………J.
 (B.V. NAGARATHNA)
New Delhi, 
May 20, 2022.
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