New Delhi, Nov. 7 -- The Meghalaya High Court has ruled that defence employees who voluntarily resign from service cannot later claim pension for past service as the discharge process entail forfeiting such benefits, according to a Live Law report.

Hearing a case filed by a former rifleman of the Assam Rifles, who self-requested discharge after 13 years of service, the Meghalaya HC stated that voluntary resignation entails forfeiture of past service under Rule 26(1) of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, the report added.

The report identified the petitioner as L Pearlson, who was appointed as a Rifleman (General Duty) in Assam Rifles on 3 January 1986. He claimed discharge from service on 30 June 1999, without voluntarily...