Agartala, 7th November 2026 : The Tripura High Court has directed the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Agartala, to release more than Rs 85 lakh towards pension contribution, leave salary contribution and gratuity to its former employee, Dr. Sumanta Chakrabarti. The Court held that the Institute could not deny him the benefits of his previous service after having formally recognised it through its own memorandums.
Justice Biswajit Palit, while delivering the order, observed, “Whatever benefit the petitioner will accrue should be paid by NITA. The said memorandum has not been nullified by NITA at any point of time.”
Dr. Chakrabarti had served at the Tripura State Pollution Control Board from March 16, 1996, to August 11, 2011, before joining NIT Agartala as Deputy Registrar on August 12, 2011. Subsequently, the Institute issued two memorandums, on December 4, 2012, and July 23, 2013, acknowledging his previous service for the purpose of pensionary and leave benefits under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, and CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972.
However, when the Institute subsequently refused to extend the corresponding service benefits, Chakrabarti moved the High Court in 2017. His petition was allowed by a Single Judge in 2021, a decision that was later upheld by a Division Bench in 2023. NIT Agartala’s subsequent Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court was also dismissed in 2024.
The present case arose after the petitioner alleged that the Institute had not fully implemented the earlier judicial directions and had made incorrect calculations while determining the pensionary and leave salary contributions. He consequently approached the High Court again, seeking payment of the outstanding dues.
During the proceedings, the Court noted that the two memorandums issued by NITA had explicitly recognised the petitioner’s previous service between March 16, 1996, and August 11, 2011. It further observed that the Institute had neither withdrawn nor challenged these memorandums, which had consequently attained finality.
The Court also rejected NITA’s argument that the petitioner had failed to furnish an authenticated statement showing the capitalised value of pension and gratuity. It held that such an objection was inconsistent with the Institute’s own memorandum dated July 23, 2013.
Taking note of the earlier judgments and the failure of NITA to demonstrate complete compliance with the court’s directions, the High Court ruled in favour of the petitioner.
Accordingly, the Institute has been directed to release the admissible amount, exceeding Rs 85 lakh, towards the pro-rata pension contribution, leave salary contribution and gratuity within three months, after adjusting any amount already paid.
