U.O.I. vs R.PADMANABHAN

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Kerala High Court which directed the Union of India to consider the reward claim of an IPS officer under the Guidelines issued for rewards related to seizures under the Central Excise & Salt Act and other related laws. The Court clarified that the exclusionary rule in clause 7.2 of the Guidelines did not apply to the officer's case as it was intended to exclude only certain officers from receiving rewards based on the value of seizures. The Court also ruled that the amendments limiting rewards could not be applied retrospectively to the officer's seizure made in 1989, thus affirming his entitlement to a reward.