Pending monetary reward claims under CBDT guidelines must be decided by a reasoned speaking order within the stipulated time.

A pending claim for monetary reward under CBDT guidelines had to be examined by the competent authority and decided by a reasoned, speaking order within the stipulated time. The claim had remained unresolved despite an earlier recommendation in the claimant's favour, and the Court confined relief to directing consideration of the representation with the relevant papers. No finding was given on the claimant's substantive entitlement to the reward; the operative direction was only for lawful disposal of the pending claim.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner's claim for monetary reward under the CBDT guidelines required consideration and disposal by the competent authority by a reasoned and speaking order.

Analysis: The petitioner's claim had remained pending for a long period despite a prior recommendation in his favour. The Court noted the respondents' submission that the representation was still pending before the competent authority. In these circumstances, the appropriate course was to direct the petitioner to place the recommendation and relevant papers before respondent No. 2 and require a decision on the claim in accordance with law within a fixed time. The relief granted was confined to consideration and decision of the pending claim, without adjudicating entitlement to the monetary reward itself.

Conclusion: The claim was directed to be considered and decided by the competent authority by a reasoned and speaking order within the stipulated time, in favour of the petitioner to that limited extent.

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