Invalid Rules Cannot Confer Retirement Benefits: P&H High Court Dismisses Petitions

The Punjab and Haryana High Court held that employees of cooperative societies cannot claim retiral benefits as a matter of right under the Punjab State Cooperative Agricultural Service Societies Service Rules, 1997, declaring these rules ultra vires and unenforceable.

The Court noted that the rules were framed by the Registrar without authority under the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961, and therefore lacked statutory force.

It further held that cooperative societies are independent entities governed by their own bye-laws and financial capacity, and cannot be compelled to provide benefits on par with government employees.

Consequently, writ petitions seeking enforcement of such benefits were held to be non-maintainable.

[Samarjit Singh v. State of Punjab & Ors. & connected matters]