Court Upholds Engineers' Benefits Against Government Delays

The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench rejected 11 appeals by Uttar Pradesh, pointing to procedural delays. The court reinforced that file movement isn't a valid delay excuse. The decision grants relief to engineers by maintaining their eligibility for service benefits and the Old Pension Scheme, impacting state finances.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has dismissed 11 special appeals from the Uttar Pradesh government due to procedural delays. The court took a firm stance against allowing bureaucratic inefficiencies to justify these lapses.

Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh ruled that organised administrative bodies cannot hide behind 'red tape'. This ruling provides significant relief to junior engineers, entitling them to Old Pension Scheme benefits.

The appeals were submitted 93 to 195 days late, with the state citing file movement and procedural formalities. However, the court emphasized accountability and rejected the delay condonation applications, affirming that doing so would undermine the justice system and encourage negligence.