UNION OF INDIA vs PRATIBHA BONNERJEA

The Supreme Court addressed the pension entitlement of a former High Court Judge who served as Vice-Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal, determining that her pension should be fixed under Part I of the First Schedule to the High Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Act, 1954, rather than Part III as contended by the Union. The Court emphasized that Rule 15A of the Central Administrative Tribunal (Salaries and Allowances and Conditions of Service of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Members) Rules, 1985 mandates that the conditions of service for the Vice-Chairman align with those of a serving High Court Judge. The appeal was dismissed, affirming the Tribunal's decision in favor of the respondent.