Competent authorities must reconsider employees’ HPCA/PCA claims in accordance with prior Tribunal directions.

The 23 applicants were serving or retired employees of VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, holding various administrative, secretarial, translation, stenographic, ministerial, and library-related posts.

They approached the Central Administrative Tribunal concerning the issue of payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance (HPCA/PCA).

During the hearing, the applicants submitted that the same issue had recently been considered by a Coordinate Bench in OA No. 1525/2023, decided on 9 April 2026, involving similarly placed employees and respondents.

They stated that they would be satisfied if their case was directed to be considered in accordance with the directions issued in that earlier matter.

Whether the applicants’ claim concerning HPCA/PCA should be considered by the competent authority in light of the directions issued by the Coordinate Bench in OA No. 1525/2023 dated 9 April 2026.

Whether the respondents should be directed to undertake such consideration within a specified period and take an appropriate decision in accordance with law.

The Tribunal applied the principle of judicial consistency and parity with similarly situated employees, holding that where a Coordinate Bench has considered an identical issue involving similar parties, the claim of similarly placed applicants may appropriately be examined in the light of that decision.

The Tribunal relied upon the operative directions in OA No. 1525/2023, under which the respondents were precluded from recovering amounts already disbursed towards HPCA/PCA and were directed to refer the issue concerning implementation and release of HPCA/PCA funds to a Committee comprising senior Government officials, with consideration of the Risk and Hardship Matrix and stakeholder suggestions.

The Tribunal also exercised its power to issue a time-bound direction for administrative consideration and decision in accordance with law.

The applicants’ counsel expressly limited the relief sought to consideration of their case in accordance with the Coordinate Bench’s decision in OA No. 1525/2023.

Since the respondents and the subject matter were substantially similar, the Tribunal found it appropriate to extend the benefit of administrative reconsideration rather than independently adjudicate the substantive entitlement to HPCA/PCA in the present proceedings.

Accordingly, the competent authority was directed to examine the applicants’ cases in the light of the earlier directions and take an appropriate decision in accordance with law.

The Tribunal did not itself determine the applicants’ final entitlement or direct immediate payment of HPCA/PCA.

The exercise was required to be completed within three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of the order.

Pending miscellaneous applications were also disposed of, and there was no order as to costs.