In Brief
A government pharmacist appointed in 1975 resigned from his position in 1986 and later claimed pension benefits. The lower courts awarded him pension, but the Supreme Court reversed this decision. The Court held that under the Punjab Civil Services Rules, resignation automatically forfeits past service unless the employee resigned to take up another qualifying government post. Forfeited service cannot count towards the minimum qualifying period for pension entitlement. The Court allowed the appeal but permitted the respondent to retain Rs. 3,94,474.89 already received without recovery, prohibiting further payments.
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