In Brief
A government employee earned an annual increment on the last day of service before retiring due to superannuation. The employer denied the increment because it would accrue the day after retirement. The Supreme Court held that once an employee completes one year of service with good conduct, the increment is earned and becomes payable on the next day, regardless of retirement timing. Denying an earned benefit solely because the employee is not in service on the accrual date is arbitrary and unconstitutional. The Court approved the High Court's direction to grant the increment, settling that legitimate entitlements cannot be defeated by fortuitous retirement timing.
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