The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra Government to consider the claims of retired employees seeking benefit of one annual increment due immediately after their retirement. The benefit will also lead to a revision in their pension. A Division Bench of Justice Raj D Wakode and Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke directed the State Government to decide the representations of the retired employees within six weeks. The petitioners, led by Prakash Kawaduji Gantawar, had approached the High Court seeking the annual increment due on July 1 to be included in their last drawn salary. They argued that they had completed more than six months of service in the final year before retirement. Their counsel, S P Sonwane, submitted that the issue was already settled by the Supreme Court in the case of Director (Admn. and HR), KPTCL vs V C P Mundinamani. The Supreme Court had held that employees retiring on June 30 were entitled to the annual increment earned through their service during the preceding year. The State, through Additional Government Pleader S S Jachak, accepted the legal position. However, she submitted that the service records of the petitioners needed to be verified before granting the benefit. The High Court directed the authorities to verify their service records. If found eligible, the employees will get arrears for three years before filing the petition or the actual eligible period, whichever is less. Their pension will also be recalculated by adding the increment to their last drawn salary. The Government has been directed to pay the arrears within 90 days.