IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P. No.12886 of 1993 Date of Decision:- 15.03.2011 Mathura Dass and others ....Petitioner(s) vs. The State of Punjab and others ....Respondent(s) *** CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RANJAN GOGOI, CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH *** Present:- Mr.J.S.Puri, Additional Advocate General, Punjab. *** Ranjan Gogoi, CJ. (Oral) This writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents not to recover the amount of House Rent Allowance drawn by the petitioners in terms of the Government order dated 30.8.1988. By interim order dated 19.10.1993 passed in the case, recovery was stayed. In the meantime, nearly two decades have elapsed. Most of the petitioners, if not all, must have retired from service. Furthermore, a Full Bench of this Court in the case of Budh Ram vs. State of Haryana, 2009 (3) SCT 333, has taken a view that recovery from an employee will not be justified if the initial grant is not vitiated on account of any fraud or illegality. Taking into account the above facts, the writ petition is disposed of by directing that no recovery of the House Rent Allowance already drawn by the petitioners shall be effected by the respondents. Writ petition shall stand closed in terms of above. ( RANJAN GOGOI ) CHIEF JUSTICE March 15, 2011 ( AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH ) poonam JUDGE