State Bank Of Patiala vs Pritam Singh Bedi & Ors

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the entitlement of employees who retired under the State Bank of Patiala Voluntary Retirement Scheme, 2000, to receive pension after completing more than 19 and ½ years of service. The Court clarified that Regulation 28 of the State Bank of Patiala (Employees) Pension Regulations, 1995 applies, and Regulation 29, which imposes a 20-year service requirement for pension eligibility, does not. The Court affirmed the High Court's ruling that the employees were entitled to pension benefits as per the Scheme, dismissing the Bank's appeals.