In Brief
A college principal submitted a prospective resignation effective six months later due to health reasons. The management demanded an unconditional immediate resignation and, when refused, unilaterally declared the resignation 'final, binding and irrevocable' without the principal's prior consent. The principal attempted to withdraw the resignation before the effective date. Lower courts rejected the withdrawal, citing estoppel and implied understanding. The Supreme Court held that prospective resignations are withdrawable before the effective date absent express contractual bar or prior binding agreement. The unilateral declaration of finality was invalid. The principal was allowed to regularize the intervening service period for pension purposes, though no back-wages were awarded, and granted retiral benefits based on the regularized tenure.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.