Retrospective reduction of pay scale of government employee and recovery thereof illegal: Supreme Court

Jagdish Prasad Singh Vs State of Bihar and Others (Supreme Court of India) Supreme Court held that that any decision taken by the State Government to reduce an employee’s pay scale and recover the excess amount cannot be applied retrospectively and that too after a long time gap. Accordingly, action directing reduction of pay scale and recovery of the excess amount is grossly arbitrary and illegal. Facts- Appellant was appointed to the post of Supply Inspector in the Government of Bihar in the year 1966. After serving for 15 years, he received his first time bound promotion as Marketing Offi...