In Brief
Dr. Vinod Kumar, a Lecturer, died in service in August 2009 before he could exercise a retirement option. The State of U.P. rejected his widow's gratuity claim, arguing that the employee had not opted for retirement at age 60. The High Court allowed the widow's petition, directing payment of death-cum-retirement gratuity with interest. The Supreme Court upheld this decision, holding that death-cum-retirement gratuity is a benevolent scheme extended to heirs of deceased employees, irrespective of whether the employee exercised the retirement option. The appeal was dismissed with costs.
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