Employee's Service In NTPC School, Approved By West Bengal Board , Must Be Considered For Pension: Calcutta HC

A single judge bench of the Calcutta High Court comprising of Saugata Bhattacharyya, J. held that the employee's service at NTPC High School, though in a recognized unaided institution, must be considered for pensionary benefits as it was approved by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, Government of West Bengal. While processing the pension case of the petitioner in NTPC High School, the respondent State observed on 29th January, 2024 that NTPC High School was financed by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited and not by the Government of West Bengal, therefore, service of the petitioner in the NTPC school should be treated as unqualified and not to be considered for calculating pensionary benefits. The petitioner relied upon the approval memo dated 16th February, 1995 issued by the Secretary, West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, approving the service of the petitioner as an Assistant Teacher along with other teaching and nonteaching staffs of NTPC High School. Findings of the Court It was observed by the court that though NTPC High School was not Government aided institution but it was a recognized institution and the service of the petitioner for the period from 7th April, 1993 to 4th July, 2002 was approved by the Secretary of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education Board, which was an appropriate authority.