1 CGHC010367112026 2026:CGHC:41371 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 6980 of 2026 Narendra Kumar Sharma S/o. Dwarika Prashad, Aged About 73 Years Retired Agricultural Development Officer, Resident Of Behind M.I.G-71, Nehru Nagar, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh. Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Principal Secretary, Department Of Agriculture, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, Chhattisgarh. 2 - The Director Of Agriculture, Directorate Of Agriculture, Indrawati Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, Chhattisgarh. 3 - State Of Madhya Pradesh, Through The Principal Secretary, Department Of Agriculture, Vallabh Bhawan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 4 - The Accountant General (A And E), Chhattisgarh, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 5 - The Accountant General (A And E), Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, District - Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 6 - District Agriculture Officer-Cum-Drawing And Disbursing Officer (D D O) Bilaspur, District Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. 7 - Assistant Land Conservator Officer Bilaspur, District Bilaspur, Chhattisagrh. Respondent(s) RAHUL JHA Digitally signed by RAHUL JHA Date: 2026.09.24 10:33:36 +0530 2 (Cause-title taken from CIS) For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Ravi Bhagat, Advocate For Resp/State : Ms. Vartika Shrivastava, PL For Resp No. 4 & 5 : Mr. Raj Kumar Gupta, Advocate Hon’ble Shri Bibhu Datta Guru, Judge Order on Board 23/09/2026 1. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that an amount of Rs.58,509/- towards the GPF account of the petitioner has been withheld by the respondent authorities on the ground that the GPF account reflects a negative balance and, therefore, the petitioner is not entitled to the said amount. He submits that the action of the respondents is arbitrary, illegal and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. 2. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for respondent Nos.4 and 5 submits that, on account of the negative balance in the GPF account of the petitioner, the aforesaid amount has been deducted and, out of the total GPF entitlement of Rs.4,11,189/-, an amount of Rs.3,52,680/- has already been released to the petitioner. He submits that the grievance of the petitioner involves disputed questions of fact. The State Government has constituted a High Power Pension Redressal Committee, in which representatives of the Accountant General are also members. Therefore, it would be appropriate to refer the matter to the said Committee for consideration and decision in accordance with law. 3 3. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents available on record. 4. Considering the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to furnish a copy of the writ petition along with all relevant documents before the Office of the Advocate General within a period of one week. Upon receipt thereof, the Office of the Advocate General shall forward the same to the High Power Pension Redressal Committee within a further period of 15 days. Thereafter, the Committee shall consider and decide the grievance of the petitioner with regard to the amount withheld from his GPF account and other pensionary/retiral benefits, in accordance with law, after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and all other concerned parties, and shall pass an appropriate reasoned order preferably within a period of 60 days thereafter. 5. With the aforesaid observation and direction, the writ petition is disposed of. Sd/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) JUDGE Rahul