M.K. Mittal v. Hvpn and Anr

HIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAToCHANDIGARHo ****o CWP-21459-2015oo Reservedoono21.07.2023o Pronouncedoono14.09.2023o ****o MKoMittalo o o o o o o o ...oPetitionero o o o VS.o o HVPNo o o o o o o oo ...oRespondentso ****o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.JUSTICEoSANDEEPoMOUDGILo ****o Present:oo Mr.oDRoBansal,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o Mr.oGauravoJindal,oAddl.oAGoHaryanaoo o o Mr.oPardeepoRajput,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.1o ****o SandeepoMoudgil,oJ.oo o

(1).k Theo petitionero seekso ao writo ofo certiorario too quasho theo impugnedo ordero datedo 11.10.2007o (Annexureo P4)o ando theo ordero datedo 12.09.2008o (AnnexureoP9)ovideowhichotheorespondent-Nigamohasonotorestoredotheopensionoofo theopetitionerowhenotheocommutedovalueoofotheopensionostandsorecoveredobyowayo ofonon-paymentoofopensionoandootheroallowances.ooHeoalsooseeksoaodirectionotoo theorespondentsotoograntopensionaryobenefitsotootheopetitioneroasoperotheopensiono papersosubmittedobyohimooroalternatively,otoorestoreotheocommutedopensionofromo theodateowhenoitsofullovalueohasobeenorecoveredoincludingonotionalointerest,oalongo withoarrearsoofotheoamountodueoalongowitho12%ointerest.ooo

(2).k Briefofactsoofotheocaseoareothatotheopetitionerojoinedotheoerstwhileo HaryanaoStateoElectricityoBoardoasoAccountsoOfficeroono10.11.1989oandowaso promotedoasoSr.AccountsoOfficeroono10.11.1995.oThereafter,otheopetitionerowaso giveno additionalo chargeo ofo Companyo Secretaryo ono 30.11.1998o whoo earnedo anotheropromotionoasoChiefoAccountsoOfficeroono06.07.2000.ooo

&<'. In the year 2005, the petitioner applied, through proper channel, and was selected for the post of Chief (Finance and Accounts) in Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC), a Government of India Enterprise. On 07.12.2005, he represented the respondent No.1 to conform regarding grant of pensionary benefits etc. as per provisions of CSR (Annexure P-33) followed by representations dated 19.12.2005 (Annexure P-34) and dated 27.12.2005 (Annexure P-35). The respondent-corporation vide letter dated 14.01.2006 (Annexure P1) confirmed the payment of pensionary benefits and as such, the petitioner submitted his resignation under Rule 4.19(b) of Punjab Civil Services Rules Vol.II on 14.01.2006 to join Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd. (Annexure P-36). The petitioner was confirmed in REC vide letter dated

16.03.2007 (Annexure P-2). However, the respondent-corporation vide order dated 11.10.2007 (Annexure P9), decided to pay the pensionary benefits in lumpsum whereas the petitioner submitted pension papers for payment of monthly pension (Annexure P-4). The petitioner submitted representation on

18.02.2008 (Annexure P-5) for payment of monthly pension instead of pension in lump-sum and for restoration of commuted pension (Annexures P-6 to P-8) but the same were rejected vide impugned letter dated 12.09.2008 (Annexure P-9). &2'. The petitioner filed CWP No.17401 of 2008 for restoration of pension, which was decided on 13.09.2010 (Annexure P-19) in terms of decision of this Court dated 12.08.2010 passed in SP Wadhawan vs. HVPN & Ors. (CWP No.16697 of 1998) and other connected cases (Annexure P-18) directing the respondents to decide the issue within 6 months. Even thereafter the petitioner has been representing for restoration of commuted pension

(Annexures P-21 & P-22) but till date no steps have been taken by the respondents. Hence, this writ petition. &:'. Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the Haryana Govt. vide letter dated 02.06.1989 (Annexure P13) had allowed restoration of commuted portion of pension even to those who sought premature retirement or were retired compulsorily before the age of superannuation, after full value of commutation, and also notional interest stands recovered. He further highlighted that the Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, vide memo dated

30.09.1996 (Annexure P15), in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court in Writ Petition (C) No.11855/1985 "Welfare Association of Absorbed Central Govt. Employees in Public Sector Enterprises and others vs. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC 1201, decided that the benefit of restoration of commuted pension shall be admissible to all those Government employees who had been absorbed in Public Sector Undertaking/autonomous/statutory bodies notwithstanding the fact that having commuted the full pension, they were not in receipt of any monthly pension. It was further averred that the lump-sum amount paid gets adjusted by about 10 or 12 years and therefore, the Government must restore the commuted portion of one-third pension since the commuted portion out of the pension is ordinarily recovered within about 12 years. &='. Learned counsel also submitted that the State of Haryana implemented the judgment of the Permanent Lok Adalat dated 03.05.2000 and is paying the benefit of the same to the petitioners in those writ petitions without challenging the decision of the Lok Adalat, thus that decision became final,

however, in the case of other employees, the decision is not being implemented arbitrarily and discriminatorily. &0'. It is further the contention raised on behalf of the petitioner that he submitted his pension papers on 26.12.2006 claiming monthly pension, family pension, gratuity and commutation of 40% pension because at that time rdcommutation, 40% pension was admissible instead of 1/3 pension and concluded stating that the respondent-Corporation cannot arbitrarily pass an order dated 11.10.2007 (Annexure P-4) denying these benefits to the petitioners and ordering 100% commutation of pension, at their own, which the petitioner never opted. &4'. Reliance has been placed on the decision of this Court in CWP No.9059 of 1993 decided on 23.02.1994 (Ganga Bishan vs. State of Haryana) and State of Haryana VS Madan Lal Ahlwawat, 2002(5) SLR 590,wherein it was held that the employee who has rendered 10 years of qualifying service is entitled to grant of pension. &3'. Reply dated nil has been filed by Mukesh Kumar Minglani, Under Secretary/HR-II, HVPN, Panchkula, wherein it has been averred that one time lumpsum amount in lieu of pension worked out with reference to commutation table applicable as the date from which pension will be admissible/payable i.e. the date of his quitting the service from the respondent-Nigam would be extended to petitioner thus there is no question of commuted value. &%.'. Mr. Pardeep Rajput, Advocate for respondent-Nigam further averred that the petitioner is not a pensioner, and as such is not entitled to any retiral benefits as he has already received lumpsum amount towards retiral benefit. It is also argued by him that the petitioner neither got premature

retirement nor was he retired compulsorily albeit he resigned himself from the Nigam service to take up another appointment. &%%'. In reply, the respondent-Nigam further brought to the notice of this Court that though instructions issued by Haryana Government are followed by the it mutatis mutandis and since Haryana Government itself has not adopted the Government of India letter dated 30.09.1996, as such no benefit can be derived to the petitioner in this regard. &%/'. On the question of parity, it is pleaded that OP Katyal never resigned from the job rather was absorbed in the corporation whereas the petitioner is not a pensioner as such not entitled to any retiral benefits as he has rdreceived lumpsum amount and accordingly, the benefit of 1/3 commuted portion of pension/commuted full pension as the case may be was granted to OP Katyal on the basis of existing rules and law. &%<'. Counter to the stand of the respondent-Nigam, the petitioner has filed replication dated 01.08.2017 asserting that the case of the petitioner was treated at par with the employees who were absorbed in the other Govt. organization as per memorandum dated 14.01.2006. Had the memorandum dated

14.01.2006 been not passed before relieving the petitioner from the respondent-Corporation, he may not have joined the new organization. It is also urged on behalf of the petitioner that now the respondents are stopped from denying the benefit of memorandum dated 14.01.2006 to the petitioner and as such he is very much entitled to pension as per memorandum dated 14.01.2006 since the papers were submitted by him for payment of monthly pension. &%2'. In reply to CM-1445-2019, the respondents have filed CM-1475-2019 wherein it has been stated that the respondents have paid 100% lumpsum CWP-21459-2015o o -o6o-ooo o o o o pensionaryo benefito too theo petitionero ino lieuo ofo pensiono amountingo too Rs.11,31,379-00o ando Gratuityo amountingo too Rs.2,70,816-00.o o Further,o theo petitionerohadofiledoCiviloSuitoseekingointerestofromo26.03.2007otoo08.11.2007oforo delayedopaymentoofopensionaryobenefitsotootheopetitioneroandovideojudgmentoando decreeodatedo28.04.2011,otheosuitowasodecreedoinofavouroofotheopetitioner.oAppealo preferredo byo theo respondentso waso dismissedo witho modificationo excludingo theo periodoofointerestopayableoi.e.ofromo26.03.2006otoo08.11.2007otoo26.03.2006otoo

26.06.2007.oAccordingly,ointerestoamountingotooRs.1,04,646/-owasodisbursedotoo theopetitioner.ooo

(15).k Heardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandogoneothroughotheorecord.ooo

(16).k IssuesoconcerningotheopensionoofoGovernmentoemployeesoabsorbedo inopublicosectoroundertakingso(absorbees)ohaveobeenoexaminedobyoSupremeoCourto fromotimeotootime.oItoallostartedowithotheodecisionoofoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino CommonoCauseov.oUnionoofoIndia,o(1987)o1oSCCo142owhichowasoaopetitiono undero Articleo 32o ofo theo Constitutiono filedo byo Commono Cause,o ao registeredo societyo andothreeo retiredo governmento servantsoprayingo toostrikeodowno certaino provisionsoofotheoCentraloCiviloServiceso(CommutationoofoPension)oRules,o1981.o AsoperotheoRulesothenoprevalentowhenoaopensionerocommutedoanyopartoofohiso pensionoupotootheoauthorisedolimito(whichoinotheocaseoofociviliansowasouptooone-thirdowhileoinotheocaseoofodefenceopersonnel,oitowasoupotoo43operocentoinotheocaseo ofoofficersoandoupotoo45operocentoinorespectoofootheroranks)ohisopensionowaso reducedoforotheoremainingopartoofohisolifeobyodeductingotheocommutedoportiono fromotheomonthlyopension.oTheocontentionoofotheopetitionersowasothatotheolumpo sumoamountopaidoatotheotimeoofocommutationogetsoadjustedobyoabouto10ooro12o yearsoandotherefore,otheoGovernmentomustobeodirectedotoorestoreotheocommutedo CWP-21459-2015o o -o7o-ooo o o o o portiono ofo one-thirdo pension.o Ito waso alsoo observedo thato thereo hado beeno ao substantialoimprovementoinotheolifeoexpectancyoofotheopeopleoinoIndia,ohenceo thereowasonoojustificationoforodenyingotheorestorationoofotheocommutedoone-thirdo portionoofopensionoafteroitsoadjustmentoinoaoperiodoofo10ooro12oyears.oDuringotheo pendencyoofotheocaseotheoUnionoofoIndiaoagreedotoorestoreotheocommutedoportiono ofotheopensionoinoregardotooallocivilianoemployeesoatotheoageoofo70oyearsooroaftero 15oyears,owhicheveroisolater,oandoagreedotoomakeothisoeffectiveofromo1-4-1986.o TheoApexoCourtohadodirectedothatoitoisonotonecessaryotooreferotootheoageoofotheo commutingopensionerowhenotheobenefitowouldobeorestored.oItowouldobeosufficiento thatoonotheoexpiryoofofifteenoyearsofromotheoperiodooforetirementosuchorestorationo wouldotakeoplace.oItowasodirectedotoobeomadeoeffectiveofromo1-4-1985.oo

(17).k Theo Uniono ofo Indiao whileo givingo effecto too theo aboveo judgmento deniedotheosameobenefitotootheoabsorbeesobyoinsertingoparao4oinotheoOModatedo5-3-1987owhichoreadoasofollows:-oo "Centralo Governmento employeeso whoo goto themselveso absorbedo underoCentraloPublicoSectoroUndertakings/autonomousobodiesoando haveo received/oro optedo too receiveo commutedo valueo foro 1/3rdo ofo pensionoasowelloasoterminalobenefitsoequalotootheocommutedovalueoofo theo balanceo amounto ofo pensiono lefto aftero commutingo 1/3rdo ofo pensionoareonotoentitledotooanyobenefitounderotheseoordersoasotheyo haveoceasedotoobeoCentraloGovernmentopensioners."oo

(18).k InoWelfareoAssn.oofoAbsorbedoCentraloGovt.oEmployeesoinoPublico Enterprisesov.oUnionoofoIndia,o(1996)o2oSCCo187,otheoassociationoofoabsorbedo CentraloGovernmentoemployeesosoughtoquashingoofotheoabove-reproducedopara-o

4.oTheoApexoCourtoinoitsodecisionoconsideredotheoscopeoofoRuleo37-AoofotheoCCSo (Pension)oRules,o1972oandoheldothatoinosoofaroasocommutationoofoone-thirdoofotheo pensionoisoconcerned,otheoabsorbeesoasowelloasopetitionersoinoCommonoCause'so CWP-21459-2015o o -o8o-ooo o o o o caseo(supra)ostoodoonosimilarofootingowithonoodifference.oSoofaroasotheobalanceoofo two-thirdopensionoisoconcerned,otheoabsorbeesohadoreceivedotheocommutedovalueo (terminalobenefits)oonoconditionoofotheirosurrenderingoofotheirorightoofodrawingo two-thirdso ofo theiro pensiono whicho waso noto theo caseo witho theo petitionerso ino CommonoCause'socaseo(supra).oThusotheodenialoofobenefitogivenotoopetitionersoino CommonoCause'socaseo(supra)otootheoabsorbeesoviolatedoArticleso14oando16oofo theoConstitution.oItowasoheldothatotheoreasoningofororestoringoone-thirdocommutedo pensionoinotheo caseoofo Commono Cause'so caseo (supra)oequallyo applieso tootheo restorationoofoone-thirdocommutedopensionoinotheocaseoofotheoabsorbees.oTheo impugnedoparao4oinoOModatedo5-3-1987owasoquashed.oo

(19).k TheoSupremeoCourtoalsoonoticedothatotheoGovernmentoofoIndiaohado videoOfficeoMemorandumodatedo31.3.1995owithdrawnotheoschemeoofopermittingo commutationoofofullopension.ooItowasoobservedoasounder:-oo "13.oIfoafterotheoexpiryoofo15oyears,otheopensionersowhoohaveooptedo foro one-thirdo commutation,o becomeo entitledo too restorationo ofo pensiono ono theo groundo thato theo lumpo sumo amounto paido hado goto adjustedobeforeotheosaidoperiodoasoheldoino"CommonoCause"ocase,o thereoisonoogoodoreasonoforonotoapplyingotheosameotootheopetitionerso whoohaveocommutedotheiro10oofo11oC.W.P.oNo.16071oofo2016o[11]o one-thirdo portiono ofo theo pensiono undero Ruleo 37-Ao ofo theo CCSo (Pension)oRules,o1972owithoutoanyocommitmentoforothisoportionoofo commutation.o Presumablyo theo respondentso realisingo theo fallacyo haveo withdrawno theo schemeo ofo permittingo commutationo ofo fullo pensionobyoOMoNo.o4/42/91-P&PWo(D)odatedo31-3-o1995.oParao3oofo theoOfficeoMemorandumoreadsoasofollows:oo "3.oTheoproposalotooreviewotheoexistingotermsoandoconditionso ofo absorptiono hado beeno undero considerationo ofo theo Governmentoforoquiteosomeotimeopast.oTheoPresidentoisonowo pleasedotoo...o(sic)othatotheoexistingotermsoandoconditionsoofo CWP-21459-2015o o -o9o-ooo o o o o absorptiono shallo stando partiallyo modifiedo too theo extento indicatedobelow:oo

(a)o Theo existingo facilityo ofo receivingo capitalisationo valueoequivalentotoo100%ocommutationoofopensionoono absorptionoshallostandowithdrawn;oo

(b)o Theo existingo facilityo too drawo proo ratao monthlyo pensiono fromo theo dateo ofo absorptiono (witho optiono too commuteo 1/3rdo pensiono wherevero admissibleo shallo continueotooexist)."oo

(20).k TheoMadrasoHighoCourtoinoK.oGanesanoVersusoRegistraroCentralo AdministrativeoTribunaloChennaio2007(17)oS.C.T.o810oconsideredotheoclaimoofo anoabsorbee,owhooafterohisoresignationoasoDeputyoControlleroGeneraloofoAccountso (CentraloGovernmentoService)ohadojoinedoBharatoHeavyoElectricalsoLimitedo(ao publico sectoro undertaking)o basedo ono theo Governmento ofo Indiao O.M.No.28016/5/85-Estt.(c)odatedo31.01.1986.oHeohadosubmittedohisooptionoono

12.05.1986ofororeceiptoofopensionaryobenefitsoasoperoparagraph-4(i)(b)oofothato O.M.owhichoprovidedoforoaoparticularomanneroofocommutationoofopensionoandoofo rd rd1/3 ooando2/3 oapartofromopro-rataogratuityoasoprescribedounderoRuleo37-Aoofotheo CCSoPensionoRules.oAsoperohisooptionohisoentireopensionowasocommutedoandopaido toohimoinoJuly,o1986.oAboutoelevenoyearsolateroheosubmittedorepresentationoono rd25.05.1997ocontendingothatosurrenderingoofohisoownorightoforodrawingo2/3 oofohiso pensionobyooptingounderoparagraph-4(ii)(b)oofoO.Modatedo31.01.1986,oreadoalongo withoRuleo37-AoofotheoCCSoPensionoRules,owasoprohibitedobyoSectiono12oofotheo rdPensionoActo1871.oHence,oheowasoentitledoforotheorestorationoofohiso2/3 opensiono alsooafterotheoperiodoofocommutation.oTheoclaimowasorejected.oHeochallengedotheo actionobeforeotheoCentraloAdministrativeoTribunaloseekingoaodeclarationothatoRuleo 37-Ao(b)oofotheoCCSoPensionoRule,o1972oreadowithoClause(b)oinoO.Modatedo CWP-21459-2015o o -o10o-ooo o o o o

31.01.1986owasoillegaloandoinoviolationoofoSectiono12oofotheoPensionoAct.oHeo prayedo foro directionso too theo respondentso too payo himo pensiono ono theo 2/rdo commutedopensionofromotheodateoofocommutationoafteroadjustingotheoamounto alreadyopaidowithointerest.o(Theoclaimoofotheopetitionerohereinoisosimilar).oTheoOAo wasodismissed.oTheoquestionobeforeotheoMadrasoHighoCourtothusowasowhetherotheo rd rdcommutationoofowholeoofotheopensionoinosoofaroasoitorelatedotoo1/3 ooando2/3 oofoito basedoonoparagraph-4(ii)(a)(b)oofoO.M.,odatedo31.01.1986oreadoalongowithoRuleo 37-Aocouldobeoheldotoohaveodisabledohimofromoseekingofororestorationoofopension.o

(21).k TheoHighoCourtoheldothatosurrenderingoofotheorightoforowithdrawalo rdofo2/3 oofoPensionoafteroitsocommutationoasoprovidedounderoRuleo37-Ao(b)owaso repugnantotooSectiono12oofotheoPensionsoAct.oConsequentlyoanyoactionobasedoono Ruleo37-A(b)oisowhollyoillegaloandothereforeotheosurrenderingooforightsoofotheo rdpetitioneroforodrawingo2/3 oofohisopensionoatotheotimeoofoitsocommutationotoothato extentocanonotooperateoagainstohisointerest.oSectiono12oofotheoPensionsoAct,o1871o waso referredo whicho providedo thato allo assignments,o agreements,o saleso ando securitiesoofo everyo kindo madeo byo theo persono entitledo too anyo pension,o payo oro allowanceomentionedoinosectiono11oinorespectoofoanyomoneyonotopayableoatooro beforeotheomakingothereofoonoaccountoofosuchopension,opayooroallowanceooroforo givingooroassigningoanyofutureointerestothereinoareonulloandovoid.oTheoHighoCourto thusoobservedothat:-o

13.oUnderoSectiono10oasostatedobyousoearlier,owhileocommutationoofo pensionoforotheowholeooroanyopartoofoitocanobeooptedobyoaopensionero basedoonosuchotermsofixedounderotheoRules,oitowillohaveotoobeostatedo thatosuchoenablingoprovisionoprovidingoforocommutationoforoeithero partoorowholeoofotheopensionocanoonlyoforocommutationopurposeso andothatounderotheoguiseoofocommutation,oitowillonotobeoopenoforotheo Governmentotooonceoandoforoallowipeoofotheoveryorightotoorestorationo CWP-21459-2015o o -o11o-ooo o o o o ofosuchopensionoafterotheoexpiryoofotheoperiodoofocommutation.oIno fact,o Ruleo 37-Ao clauseo (b)o thougho useso theo expressiono theo commutationo ofo balanceo amounto ofo pensiono namelyo theo 2/rdo ofo pension,o theo stipulationso containedo thereino providingo foro sucho commutationoofo2/rdopensionowouldobeosubjectotoosurrenderingoofo theo righto ofo Governmento servant,o foro drawingo theo 2/rdo pensiono wouldorunocounterotootheoveryoconceptoofocommutationowhichowillo notobeoinoconsonanceowithoSectiono10oprovidingoforocommutationoofo pensionoaloneoandonototheorightotooclaimopensionoafterotheoperiodoofo commutation.o

14.oThatoapart,oevenoifotheopetitionerowasoobligedotoosurrenderosucho aorightoforotheodrawaloofo2/rdoofohisopensionobyoagreeingoforotheo termsocontainedoinoRuleo37-AoofoPensionoRulesoinoasomuchoasosuchoao wholesaleosurrenderoofotheorightotoopensionoasocontainedoinotheosaido RuleoconflictsoSectiono12oofotheoPensionsoAct,oitowillohaveotoobeoheldo thato theo Ruleso providingo foro sucho surrenderingo ofo righto ino oppositionotooSectiono12oofotheoActocannotobeopermittedotoooperate.o WhenounderoSectiono12oofotheoAct,othereoisoaoprohibitionoimposedoono theopensionerohimselfo too barteroawayo hiso rightoundero veryo manyo circumstanceso excepto aso providedo undero Sectiono 12Ao ofo theo PensionsoAct,oweoareoconvincedothatosurrenderingoofotheorightoforo drawaloofo2/rdoofoPensionoafteroitsocommutationoasoprovidedoundero Ruleo37-Ao(b)oisorepugnantotooSectiono12oandoisostraightoawayohitobyo theoprohibitionoimposedounderoSectiono12.oConsequentlyoanyoactiono basedo ono Ruleo 37-A(b)o iso whollyo illegalo ando thereforeo theo surrenderingo ofo rightso ofo theo petitionero foro drawingo 2/rdo ofo hiso pensionoatotheotimeoofoitsocommutationotoothatoextentocanonotooperateo againstohisointerest.oWeothereforeodeclareothatosuchosurrenderingo rightsobyotheopetitioneroatotheotimeoofohisoabsorptionoinotheoyearo 1986o whileo commutingo 2/rdo ofo hiso pension,o waso invalido ando consequentlyotheopetitionerowasolawfullyoentitledoforotheorestorationo ofohisopensionoafterotheoexpiryoofotheoperiodoofocommutationoofo2/rdo pension."o CWP-21459-2015o o -o12o-ooo o o o o

(22).k Civilo Appealo No.6048o ofo 2010oUniono ofo Indiao ando otherso vs.o K.Ganeshano(byoLR)owasodismissedobyoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoono01.09.2016.o EvenoReviewoPetitionsofiledowereodismissed.oConsequentothereto,oGovernmentoofo India,o Ministryo ofo Personnel,o Publico Grievanceso &o Pensions,o Departmento ofo Pensiono&oPensionersoWelfareoissuedoOfficeoMemorandumo datedo23.06.2017o withotheosubject:-o "Restorationo ofo fullo pensiono ofoabsorbeeo pensionersoino viewo ofo ordero datedo 01.09.o 2016o ofo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Civilo AppealoNo.o5048/2010oandoCiviloAppealoNo.o6371/010."o o

(23).k Paragrapho8othereofoisorelevantoandoisoreproducedobelow:-o "8.o Theo mattero haso beeno examinedo ino consultationo witho theo Departmento ofo Legalo Affairso ando theo Ministryo ofo Financeo (Departmento ofo Expenditure).o Ito haso beeno decidedo too extendo theo benefito ofo ordero datedo 02.08.2007o ofo theo Hon'bleo Madraso Higho Courto ando theo Ordero datedo 01.09.2016o ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courtotooallosimilarlyoplacedoabsorbeeopensioners.oAccordingly,oallo suchoabsorbeeopetitionersowhoohadotakeno100%olump-sumoamounto inolieuoofopensionoono absorptiono ino PSUs/Autonomouso Bodieso ino accordanceowithotheothenoexistingoRuleo37-Aoandoinowhoseocaseo1/3o pensiono hado beeno restoredo aftero 15o years,o mayo beo allowedo restorationoofofullopensionoafteroexpiryoofocommutationoperiodoofo15o yearsofromotheodateoofopaymentoofo100%olump-sumoamount.o

9.oTheoabsorbeeopensionersowhoseofullopensionoisorestoredoinotermso ofotheoaboveoinstructionsowouldoalsoobeoentitledotoorevisionoofotheiro pensionoinoaccordanceowithotheoinstructionsoissuedofromotimeotootimeo inoimplementationoofotheorecommendationsoofotheoPayoCommissions,o thincludingotheo7 oCentraloPayoCommission."o o

(24).k Comingobackotootheocaseoinohand,oonotheoapplicationomovedobyotheo petitionero ino theo yearo 2005,o theo respondentso video lettero datedo 14.01.2006o informedotheopetitionerothatopensionaryobenefitsoinorespectoofoservicesorenderedo CWP-21459-2015o o -o13o-ooo o o o o withotheorespondent-Corporation/Nigamowillobeopayableotootheonewoorganizationo inocaseotheopostoinotheonewoorganizationoisopensionableootherwise,otheosameoareo payableo too theo petitionero subjecto too theo absorptiono ino R.E.C.o byo wayo ofo confirmation.oTheopetitionerowasorelievedofromotheoservicesoofotheoNigamow.e.f.o

15.01.2006o ando ao lieno foro ao periodo ofo twoo yearso waso alsoo retainedo witho theo HVPN.ooUponoconfirmationoofoservicesoofotheopetitionerowithoREC,otheopetitionero ono26.03.2007oappliedoforosanctionowhereinoheoalsoorequestedoforotheoreleaseoofo pensionaryobenefitso"asoperopensionopapers".oooo

(25).k Video impugnedo ordero datedo 11.10.2007,o theo petitionero waso intimatedo thato sinceo serviceo ino Ruralo Electrificationo Corporationo Ltd.o iso noto pensionable,otherefore,otheopetitionerowasopaidolumpsumoamountoofopensionoi.e.o 100%ocommutationoofopensionorefereneotootheocommutationotableoapplicableoono theodateofromowhichopensionowillobeoadmissible/payableoi.e.odateoofohisoquittingo theoserviceofromoHVPNL.ooo

(26).k Theorespondentsoareoharpingouponotheirostandothatotheopetitioneroiso notoaopensioneroandoasosuchonotoentitledoforoanyoretiralobenefitsosinceoheohado resignedofromotheoNigamoserviceotootakeoupoanotheroappointment.ooAtothisostage,o ito wouldo beo relevanto too reproduceo theo contentso ofo theo impugnedo ordero datedo

11.10.2007owhichoitselfoisoself-speaking:-o "Sh.oM.K.oMittal,oChiefoAccountsoOfficeroandoCompanyoSecretaryo thjoinedotheoerstwhileoHSEBo(nowoHVPNL)oono10 oNovember,o1989.o HeohadoappliedoforotheopostoofoChiefo(F&A)oinoRuraloElectrificationo CorporationoLtd.othroughoproperochannel.oOnohisoappointmentoino Ruralo Electrificationo Corporationo Ltd.o heo waso relievedo fromo theo serviceso ofo HVPNLo w.e.f.o 15.1.2006o video thiso memoo No.CH-133/EBG-2458/Vol.IIo datedo 14.1.2006o foro joiningo hiso newo assignmentoinoRuraloElectrificationoCorporationoLtd.ooItowasoalsoo CWP-21459-2015o o -o14o-ooo o o o o conveyedoinotheoibidomemoothatoasoperotheoinstructionsoissuedovideo Memoo No.CH-35/NGE-153/L-82odatedo11.9.1990,o theopensionaryo benefitsoinorespectoofoservicesorenderedobyohimoinotheoNigamoareo payableo too theo newo organizationo ino caseo theo serviceo ino theo newo organizationoisopensionableoandoareopayableotoohimosubjectotoohiso absorptiono ino Ruralo Electrificationo Corporationo Ltd.o byo wayo ofo confirmation.oFurtheroitowasoalsooconveyedothatoheowilloretainolieno inoHVPNLoforotwooyearsoasorequestedobyohimoorotilloheoisoconfirmedo inotheonewoorganization,owhicheveroisoearlier."o

(27).k Aoperusaloofotheoaboveowouldoshowothatoundisputedly,otheopetitionero wasoaoregularoemployeeoworkingosinceoNovember,o1989oandobyotheotime,oheo appliedo ino Ruralo Electrificationo Corporationo Ltd.o ando waso relievedo ono

15.01.2006,otheopetitionerohadocompletedo16oyearsoofoservice.ooAlso,opetitioner'so applicationoforoaonewoassignmentoinoRECowasoveryomuchoinotheoknowledgeoofotheo respondent,oasoisoevidentofromotheofactothatopetitionerosubmittedohisoapplicationo forotheopostoofoChiefo(F&A)oinoRECo"throughoproperochannel".ooItoisoitselfotheo assertiono ino theo impugnedo ordero thato "theo pensionaryo benefitso ino respecto ofo serviceso renderedo byo theo petitionero ino theo Nigamo areo payable..."o Meaningo therebyothatotheoservicesoofotheopetitionerowereopensionableoandobyoreasonoofohiso havingorenderedotheoservicesowithotheoNigam,oheowasodulyoeligibleoandoentitledo foropension.ooo

(28).k Thatoapart,otheostandotakenobyotheorespondentsothatotheopetitioneroiso notoentitledoforoanyoretiralobenefitsosinceoheohadoresignedofromotheoNigamoserviceo tootakeoupoanotheroappointmentoisoalsoomisplacedoandomisleadingoandodeservesotoo beodenigrate.oTheofactothatotheorespondentsoretainedotheolienoofotheopetitioneroino NigamoafterobeingoappointedoinoRECorequiresonoospecialointerpretationobutotoosayo thatotheo'resignation'ogototenderedofromotheopetitionerowasonototheoresignationoforo CWP-21459-2015o o -o15o-ooo o o o o theo purposeso ofo clauseo (vi)o ofo theo o Circularo No.6226-2FR-68/25061o datedo

07.10.1968o (Annexureo P10)o whereo competento authorityo haso noto allowedo theo Governmentoservantotooforwardotheoapplicationothroughoproperochanneloandoaso suchotheobenefitoofopastoserviceowillonotobeoadmissible.oo

(29).k AsoperotheoMinistryoofoFinanceoOMoNo.o3379-E.IIIo(B)/65odatedotheo 17thoJune,o 1965,otheo resignationoiso treatedo aso ao technicalo formalityo whereo ao Governmentoservantohasoappliedothroughoproperochanneloforoaopostoinotheosameooro someootheroDepartment,oandoisoonoselection,orequiredotooresignotheopreviousoposto foro administrativeo reasons.o Theo resignationo willo beo treatedoaso technicalo resignation,o ifo theseo conditionso areo met,o eveno ifo theo Governmento servantohaso notomentionedo theo wordo "Technical"o whileo submittingo hiso resignation.o Theo benefitoofopastoservice,oifootherwiseoadmissibleounderorules,omayobeogivenoinosucho cases.oo

(30).k Asosuch,oitoisowhollyoaomisconceptionoonotheopartoofotheorespondent-Nigamo too sayo thato theo petitionero iso noto ao pensionero declaringo himo too beo noto entitledoforoanyoretiralobenefits.ooTheoresignationotenderedobyotheopetitionerowaso onlyoao'technicaloresignation'oandowouldoentailocountingoofopreviousoserviceoforo theopurposeoofopromotion,opensionoandootheroretiralobenefits.ooTheofilingoofocivilo suitobyotheopetitionerodoesonotohaveoanyobearingoonotheomeritsoofotheopresentocaseo asotheocivilosuitofiledobyotheopetitioner,owhichowasoultimatelyodecreed,owasoforo interestoonotheodelayedopaymentobyotheorespondentsowhereasotheopresentocaseo pertainso too restorationo ofo pensiono whicho areo totallyo twoo distincto reliefso witho separateocauseoofoaction.oooo

(31).k Forotheoreasonsodiscussedoaboveoandoinotheolightoofotheojudgmento renderedobyotheoSupremeoCourtoinoCommonoCause'socaseo(supra)oandoWelfareo

Association of Absorbed Central Govt. Employees in Public Sector Enterprises and others and also in view of the Instructions issued by the Central Government, it is incumbent upon the State of Haryana to consider the case of the petitioner for restoration of pension to the petitioner. o &</'. Accordingly, this writ petition is allowed and the orders dated

11.10.2007 (Annexure P4) and dated 12.09.2008 (Annexure P9) to the extent it provides that no restoration of commuted value of pension on any account is admissible to the petitioner, are hereby quashed and the respondent-Nigam is directed to restore to the petitioner full monthly pension, from the date of expiry of 15 years of petitioner's superannuation and pay all the arrears payable to him along with interest @ 6% p.a. and continue to pay the same for the future period. o &<<'. Let the needful be done within two months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order failing which the amount of pension and arrears of pension shall be payable @ 12% p.a. o &<2'. Ordered accordingly. o %2..3././<o 7,-!dee.o' %d/01:o I"Iishalo J%d/eo

¶1Whether speaking/reasoned? Yes/No

¶2Whether reportable? Yes/No o