State as Employer Must Lead by Example, Can't Seek Undertakings to Deny Lawful Benefits to Employees in Violation of Constitution: Punjab & Haryana High Court

In a powerful judgment protecting the rights of public employees, the Punjab & Haryana High Court held that any undertaking extracted from an employee to forgo lawful service benefits is unconstitutional and unenforceable. The Court allowed the petition of Ranjit Singh, a tubewell operator employed by the Municipal Council, Khanna, who was forced to submit an undertaking forfeiting his past service benefits following his reinstatement after 17 years of litigation.…