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2022 (12) TMI 61 - HC - Indian LawsSeeking release/recovery of HRA - no opportunity of hearing was given before starting recovery proceedings - entrustment of respondents' additional work of ISEZ - requirement to conduct an enquiry for making such recovery - HELD THAT:- Undisputedly, before making such recovery, no enquiry was conducted and no show-cause notice was given to the respondents. It is also not the case of petitioners / Department that respondents made any misrepresentation or fraud for getting HRA @ 20%. So far as the entitlement of HRA @ 20% is concerned, the respondents have filed various appointment orders (Annexure-A/2) to show that they were given the additional charge of ISEZ, Indore and some of them were regularly posted for three years and the same has not been disputed by the petitioners. The respondents obtained an information through RTI that Audit Memo No.12 on the subject of Review of HRA which is reproduced in paragraph – 7 of the impugned order, according to which Custom Officers posted at Pithampur who are also looking into the work of SEZ located at Indore and also some portion of ISEZ located at Indore that has made them entitled to get HRA at higher HRA despite their regular posting at Pithampur. If the petitioners are disputing the entrustment of respondents' additional work of ISEZ then an enquiry ought to have been conducted to verify the facts that at the relevant point of time they were posted or not. It was an account section of the petitioners who paid HRA @ 20% to the respondents, therefore, the Central Administrative Tribunal has rightly set aside the recovery. Lastly, Shri Sudhanshu Vyas, has argued that respondents gave an undertaking at the time of grant of HRA. It is correct that the undertaking binds them, not to object the recovery if excess amount found to be paid without entitlement. Once the Tribunal has held that the respondents were entitled to get HRA @ 20% and the amount cannot be recovered then undertaking has no effect - there are no reason to entertain this writ petition. Petition dismissed.
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