SPS Rathore, former DGP of Haryana, has been granted his pension benefits back after orders were passed by the Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday. Rathore was earlier convicted in the molestation case of Ruchika.

However, the kink in the loop was that Justice S K Mittal had clarified that he would be eligible to the benefits were provisional based on the outcome of the appeal that was filed by Rathore at the Supreme Court.

MHA had withheld the pension of S P S Rathore in June 2012 after he was convicted in the Ruchika molestation case, the decision of which was provided by the district court of Chandigarh and the Punjab and Haryana Court.

With interference from Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) he had challenged the Centre's decision that his act had not caused any pension loss to the Center or the State.

On May 2 in his petition with the HC, MHA had pleaded that the conviction of Rathore has been upheld by the high court and trial court and that he deserves punishment without the voiding of pension benefits.

Rathore mentioned that his pension benefits were benefits he earned not just for himself but also for his family, especially his unmarried daughter and wife. He had reiterated that it was much needed for his sustenance. Withholding his pension is denying his right to life and such order could be passed only if order of conviction has attained finality.

Rathore had served 5 months of rigorous imprisonment of the 18 months that he was sentenced for molesting Ruchika on August 11, 1990 on May 25, 2010 by a local court in Chandigarh. Supreme Court has awarded him a bail.

(AW- Anil)