Srinagar, June 11 -- In a significant ruling on retiral benefits of government and public sector employees, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has held that pensionary and retiral benefits cannot be withheld merely because an FIR is under investigation and no charge-sheet has been filed, particularly when no loss to the employer has been established in departmental or judicial proceedings.

The court directed the J&K Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) to release the withheld retirement dues and salary of its former General Manager, Vikar Mustafa Shonthu, within two months.

Justice Sanjay Dhar while delivering his judgment in the case observed that mere pendency of an investigation does not amount to a judicial proceeding...