JABALPUR, India, Nov. 4 -- Madhya Pradesh High Court issued the following judgment/order on Oct. 7:

1. A common grievance of the petitioners in the writ petition is with regard to grant of annual increment which became due on completion of one year's service before attaining the age of superannuation. In this case, some of the petitioners or the employees whose widows/legal heirs have approached this Court, have retired from service on 30th June and while in others, they have retired on 31st December of the year of their superannuation. It is their case that they have not been extended the benefit of increment which otherwise became due to them on 1st July of the same year or 1st January of the next year, as the case may be. Hence, this petition has been filed.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners has placed reliance upon the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Director (ADMN) and HR KPTCL v. C.P. Mundinamani, 2023 SCC OnLine SC 401, wherein it is held that the entitlement to receive annual increment crystallises when the Government servant completes a requisite length of service with good conduct and becomes payable on the succeeding day. The Supreme Court further held that annual increment earned on the last day of service for rendering good service preceding one year from the date of retirement with good behaviour and efficiency was liable to be paid to the employees.

3. Reference may be had to the circular dated 15.03.2024 issued by the Finance Department of the State of Madhya Pradesh, wherein all departments have been directed to grant annual increment to all the employees who have retired on 30th June / 31st December with regard to annual increment that became payable on 1st July or 1st January, as the case may be. Hence, it is prayed that the respondents may be directed to extend the pensionary benefits to the petitioners after adding annual increment from the due date along with arrears and interest thereon within a stipulated time.

4. Learned counsel for the State submits that the issue involved in the present petition is covered by the said Circular and the same is being implemented and the case is being scrutinized and processed accordingly.

5. Be that as it may, since petitioners/employees superannuated from service on 30th June or 31st December as the case may be, they are entitled to get the annual increment on the succeeding day of their retirement i.e. on 1st of July or 1st of January, as the case may be.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://mphc.gov.in/upload/jabalpur/MPHCJB/2025/WP/34202/WP_34202_2025_FinalOrder_07-10-2025_digi.pdf)

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