HC stays single judge verdict on OPS benefits | Lucknow News

Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Thursday stayed the verdict of a single judge bench that had given the benefit of Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to several temporary and work-charged employees who had been regularised after the introduction of New Pension Scheme (NPS) on April 1, 2005, warranting huge financial burden on the state exchequer.A two-judge bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice AK Chaudhary passed the interim order while hearing around 40 special appeals filed by the public works department challenging the Nov 4, 2025, verdict of the single judge bench. In the said verdict, the single judge bench had ordered the state to give the benefit of OPS to temporary and work-charged employees by combining all their services, even if their regular appointment was made after April 1, 2005. It was pleaded on behalf of state govt that the decision contradicted previous two-judge bench decisions. Govt specifically cited the decision of the Ashok Tiwari case. It also argued that the single judge bench lacked the authority to declare the two-judge bench decision invalid. It was also pointed out that some of the other decisions relied upon by the single judge bench had been subsequently overturned by a two-judge bench. The court also came across that the validity of the Uttar Pradesh Pension Amendment Act, 2021 was currently pending before the Supreme Court. Hearing the special appeals, the bench prima-facie held that the special appeals raised serious legal questions and required detailed hearing on all aspects before a final decision. The matter was posted for April 27.