Jagdish Singh v. Union of India and Others

CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-1-INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABo&oHARYANA AToCHANDIGARH CWPoNo.o31879oofo2024 Reservedoon:o18.12.2024 Pronouncedoon:o18.01.2025 JagdishoSingho ooo .....Petitioner Versus UnionoofoIndiaoandoothers ....Respondents CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSURESHWARoTHAKUR oooooooo HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoSUDEEPTIoSHARMA Arguedoby:o Mr.oBhimoSenoSehgal,oAdvocateo forotheopetitioner. Ms.oBhavanaoDatta,oSr.oPaneloCounsel forotheorespondents-UOI. **** oSURESHWARoTHAKURoo,oJo.

¶1Theopetitionerohereinobecomesoaggrievedofromotheoorder renderedobyotheoLd.oArmedoForcesoTribunal,oChandigarh,oono09.10.2024 upon, o O.A. o No.1414 o of o 2021, o whereby o the o said o O.A.,o has o been dismissed,oand,otheoreliefoquaograntoofobenefitoofooneorankooneopension hasobeenodeclined,oratheroonotheogroundothatobenefitoofooneorankoone pensionowouldobeoreceivedobyotheoHonoraryoNaiboSubedars,oasoand when,otheorevisionoisomadeovis-a-visotheominimumopensionopayableoto the o regular o Naib o Subedars, o operative o paragraph o whereof o becomes extractedohereinafter. "Pension o Tables o issued o vide o notification o dated

21.02.2022ohaveobeenoupheldoandograntoofobenefitoofooneorank oneopensionohasobeenorefusedoonotheogroundothatobenefitoofoone rankooneopensionowouldobeoreceivedobyotheoHonoraryoNaib CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-2-Subedars as and when the minimum pension payable to a regular Naib Subedar is revised. In view of the above, the issue is covered by the judgment aforementioned and this Bench has no jurisdiction to review the same. Accordingly, all these cases are disposed of in terms of Ex. Hony Nb Sub Ram Kishan's case (supra)." BRIEFoFACT-oOFoTHEoCA-E .. 'heopetitionero1hoseodateoofo(irthoiso&6.&&.&-67o1as enrolled o in o the o Arm) o on o ...,8.&-77 o and o he o 1as o dis harged o on 8&.,8..,,&oafterorenderingoaototaloservi eoofo./o)earsoagainstotheoran3oof 4avildar. o 4o1ever, o heo 1as o granted o theo 4onorar) o Ran3o ofo 0ai( Su(edar,oatotheotimeooforetirementoandothiso1asotoo(eo onsideredoonl)oas 0otionaloPromotion9s:,othusoonl)oforotheopurposeoofofi5ationoofohis pension.o'heoa(oveo1asodoneoinotermsoofotheore ommendationsoofoSi5th "entraloPa)o"ommission.oMoreover,otheoMinistr)oofo!efen eo;ovtoof Indiaoissuedo ir ularodatedo&.oJuneo.,,-o1hi hoho1evero1asotoota3e effe t o from o ,& o Januar) o .,,<, o relevant o portion o 1hereof o (e omes e5tra tedohereinafter. "I am directed to say that in pursuance of Governments decision on the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission contained in Para 5.1.62 of Chapter V of the Report, the President is pleased to decide that Honorary rank of Naib Subedar granted to Havildar will be notionally considered as a promotion to the higher grade of Naib Subedar and benefit of fitment in the pay band and the higher grade pay will be allowed notionally for the purpose of fixation of pension only. Accordingly, additional element of pension of Rs. 100/5 pm payable of Havildars granted Hony rank of Naib Subedars as per regn. 137 of Pension Regulations for the Army Part5I

(1961), amended vide this Ministry's letter No.1(1)/88/D(Pen/ ITHLESH KUMAR Sers) dated 6.11.1991 will cease to be payable. The notional CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-3-fixationoofopayoinotheorankoofoNaiboSubedarowillonotobeotaken intooaccountoforopaymentooforetirementogratuity,oencashmentoof leave,ocompositeotransferograntoetc.

2.oThisoletterotakesoeffectofromoIstoJanuary,o2006.

3.oThisoissuesowithotheoconcurrenceoofoFinanceoDivisionoofothis Ministry o vide o their o UO o No.2351/Finance/Pension o dated

3.6.2009."

¶3Theohereinaboveounderlinedoportionoofotheo(supra)ocircular thusomakesographicounderscorings,oquaoexceptingoendowmentsouponothe HonyoRankoofoNaiboSubedars,oratherobecomingonotionallyoconsideredoas promotionothereto,obesidesoalsoonotionallyobecomingoconsideredoforothe purposeoofofixationoofopensionoonly,othusotheosaidoconfermentoofothe HonyoRankoofoNaiboSubedar,obutowasonototooresultoinopaymentoof retirementogratuity,oencashmentoofoleave,ocompositeotransferograntoetc., tootheoindividualsoconcerned.

4.o ThatoaolargeonumberoofoHavaldarsowhoohadobeenogranted HonyoNaiboSubedaroRankopriorotoo01.01.2006,ohadoalsoodesiredothatothey shouldobeogivenobenefitsofromotheodateotheyoattainedorankoofoHonyoNaib Subedar.oUltimatelyoaopetitionobearingoO.A.oNo.42oofo2010obecameofiled byofiveopersonsoseekingotherebysotheograntoofobenefitsotoothemo(i.e.opre

01.01.2006)oalikeotheoonesoasobecomeoendowedotootheosoldiersopost

01.01.2006.oTheosaidoO.A.owasoallowed,owherebysoirrespectiveoofothe dateooforetirement,othusoof/fromotheoHony.oRankoofoNaiboSubedar,oyet therebysotheolatterobecameoendowedotheobenefitoofotheo(supra)ocircular.

¶5The o operative o part o of o the o said o decision o made, o on

08.02.2010,ouponoO.A.oNo.42oofo2010,obecomesoextractedohereinafter. "Inoviewoofotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocaseothe applicationoisoallowed.oRespondentsoNo.1otoo6oareodirectedoto ITHLESH KUMAR implementotheogovernmentoinstructionsoandoreleaseotheoentitled CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-4-pension o with o arrears o w.e.f. o 01.01.2006 o to o honorary o Naib Subedarowithinothreeomonthsoofotheoreceiptoofothisoorder."

¶6The o apposite o Special o Leave o petition,o as o become o filed thereagainst,obyotheoUnionoofoIndiaobecameodismissedoono13.12.2010, whereuponsoalloconcerned,obecameoeligibleobesidesobecameoentitledoto receiveotheograntoofoserviceopensionovis-a-visotheorankoofoNaiboSubedar w.e.f.o01.01.2006,othusoirrespectiveoofotheodateooforetirement.

7.o Thereafter,oaocaseowasofiledotoogetofurtherobenefitsowhenever theopensionowasorevisedoandothisowasoallowedobyotheoBenchoofotheoAFT tootheoextentothatoasoandowhenotheopensionobecomeorevised,othereupons, theobenefitothereofsobecomingoassignedotootheosoldiersoconcerned. However,osubsequently,otheoGovernmentoofoIndiaobroughtointoobeingothe policyoofoOneoRankoOneoPension,obutotheobenefitoofotheosaidopolicyowas notogivenotootheseopersons,owhichoresultedoinotheofilingoofocaseobearing O.A.oNo.1414oofo2021,oforotheograntoofoOneoRankooneoPensionofrom

01.07.2014,o01.07.2019oandothenofromo01.07.2024.oHowever,otheosaid O.A.obecameodismissed,othroughoaoverdictobecomingorenderedoon

09.10.2024 o (Annexure o P-1). o The o reason o for o making o an o order o of dismissalouponotheoO.A.o(supra)obyotheoChandigarhobenchoofoAFT, becomesoanchoredouponotheojudgmentoofotheoFulloBenchoofotheoPrincipal Bench,oAFT,oNewoDelhi,owhichoisoarguedotoobeonotoapplicableotoothe petitionerocategoryoofopersons.oInootherowords,otheoimpugnedodismissal ordero(supra),oasomadeouponoO.A.oNo.1414oofo2021,oandoasobecome bankedouponotheoverdictoasomadeobyotheoFulloBenchoofotheoPrincipal Bench,oAFT,oNewoDelhi,oisohoweverostatedotoobeonotoapplicableotoothe factsoatohand.oResultantly,oaoprayeroisomadeothatotheosaidoimpugned ITHLESH KUMAR verdictodrawnobyotheoAFToconcerned,obeonullified. CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-5- >. 'herefores,otheohereinafteroformulatedosu(stantialo2uestions ofola1oareore2uiredotoo(eoans1eredo()othiso"ourt@ a) whether the denial through the impugned verdict to the present petitioner qua the policy promulgated by the Government of India, wherebys contemplations were made for bestowing to the superannuated defence personnel the benefit of one rank one pension becomes well founded upon the judgment rendered by the Full Bench of the Principal Bench of the Principal Bench, AFT, New Delhi. b) whether the conferment of hony rank of Naib Suedar upon the petitioner, thus also endowing an entitlement upon the aforesaid to also become entitled to be construed to become promoted to the rank of regular Naib Subedar. A%!0 "!o1oo12 o3!'4"56o7' !18o%!oofo950 -. Regulationotio.&>,oofotheoRegulationsoforotheoArm)oAo&->7, providesofor,oonotheoappositeoretirement,othusotheograntoofo4on)oRan3oof 0ai(oSu(edar,otootheo4avaldars,oprovisionso1hereofo(e omesoe5tra ted hereinafter. "180.oHonyoRankoofoNa bo!ubedaroonoRe" re#en"; 5 The following are eligible for the grant of honorary rank of Naib Subedar, on retirement:5

(a) Dafadar and Havildar Clerks (including those employed in recruiting offices) with twenty eight years pensionable service.

(b) Dafedars and Havildars (other than clerks) who have not less than 21 years meritorious pensionable service and have served for two years in the rank of Dafedar/Havildar in substantive capacity.

(c) Individuals in (a) and (b) above whose pensionable service is not sufficient to qualify under those clauses but who have rendered specially meritorious service." &,. +orotheoreasonsotoo(eoassignedohereinafter,otheode ision renderedo()otheo+ulloBen hoofotheoPrin ipaloBen h,oA+',otie1o!elhi, 2025.01.20 10:54 (e ameo1elloappliedo()otheolearnedoA+'o on erned,oinoitsoma3ing CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-$- dependen eothereons. &&. 'heo?udgmentoofotheo+ulloBen hoofotheoPrin ipaloBen h, A+',otie1o!elhi,o(e ameorenderedoonotheoappositeoreferen e.o'he formulatedoreferen eoforoanoans1ero(e omingometedotheretoo()otheo+ull Ben hoofotheoPrin ipaloBen h,oA+',otie1o!elhi,o(e omesoe5tra ted hereinafter. "(a) The calculation of pension for pre52006 Hony Nb Sub @ Rs.7,750/5 w.e.f. 1.01.2006 as allowed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court was held to be valid.

(b) That the benefit of revision of pension undertaken by the CCS had not been extended to the Hony Nb Sub who had retired prior to 01.01.2006.

(c) The tables annexed with the MoD letters dated 08.03.2010 and 17.01.2013 were quashed and the Union of India was directed to work out the requisite tables afresh.

(d) That the benefit should be reckoned based on a notional minimum in the post52006 revised pay scale s per the fitment thtable, corresponding to the maximum of the pre 6 CPC pay scale." &.. 'he o ans1ers o rendered o thereons o (e ome o em(odied o in paragraph o >/ o of o the o verdi t o 9supra:, o paragraph o 1hereof o (e omes e5tra tedohereinafter. "(a) A pre52006 retiree Hony Nb Sub is entitled to the pension of a Hony Nb Sub as promulgated vide MoD notification dated

21.02.2010 and implementation instructions issued vide PCDA(P) Circular No.631 dated 05.03.2020.

(b) The individual is not entitled to be pension of a regular Nb Sub as he is only entitled to the pension of a Hony Nb Sub which is calculated based on a notional promotion to the rank of a regular Nb Sub at the minimum of the pay band, including the grade pay, MSP and group pay as applicable.

(c) This pension will be reckoned with reference to a notional maximum in the post 01.01.2006 revised pay structure CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-7-corresponding to the maximum of the previous pay scales as per the fitment table for each rank, determined on the basis of notional maximum for the rank and group across the three Services, as applicable in fixing the pension of all pre52006 retirees." &8. 'heo r)stalliBedopositionoofola1oaso(e omeode laredoinothe a(oveoe5tra tedoparagraph,oaso arriedoinotheoverdi to9supra:,oisothat@ a) All pre 2006 retirees from the Hony rank of Naib Subedars, becoming entitled to the pension of regular Naib Subedar, in terms of MoD notification dated 21.02.2020 and implementation instructions issued vide PCDA(P) Circular No.631 dated 05.03.2020. b) Any individual become declared to not become entitled to the benefit of a regular Naib Subedar but he is only entitled to the pension of a Hony Naib Subedar, which is to be calculated on the base of the said calculation through endowing qua him a notional promotion to the rank of a regular Naib Subedar at the minimum of the pay band, including the grade pay, MSP and group pay as applicable. c) The said pension was reckoned with reference to a notional maximum in the post 01.01.2006 revised pay structure corresponding to the maximum of the previous pay scales as per the fitment table for each rank, determined on the basis of notional maximum for the rank and group across the three services, as applicable in fixing the pension of all pre52006 retirees. &/. Asosu hotheo onfermentoofohon)oran3oofotiai(oSu(ear,oupon theo4avaldarsoino ontemporaneit)otootheirosuperannuationota3ingopla e, doesonotoma3eotheo onfermentoofotheosaidohon)oran3,oratherotoo(eoa promotionotootheoregularoran3oofotiai(oSu(edar,o(utoisoonl)onotionaloas su h,o(esidesoisoonl)oforotheopurposeoofoendo1mentoofo(enefitsoof pension,o1hi hoho1ever,oisotoo(eo al ulatedoatotheominimumoofotheopa) (and,oin ludingotheogradeopa),oMSP,oandogroupopa)oasoappli a(leotoothe
 

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"29. Mr. S.M. Dalal, learned counsel for the applicant in OA 589/2019 then concluded that a Hony Nb Sub was entitled to the same scale of pension as is fixed for a regular Nb Sub of the same Group. He emphasised that there cannot be a class of employees, wherein, pension was being calculated on different scales; the pension of pre52006 retirees being calculated based on the pay scale of a Hav while the pension of post52006 retirees being calculated based on the scale of a regular Nb Sub. He further added that the pension of a Hony Nb Sub in Group5Y with the length of service of 24 years was thus entitled to pension @ Rs.9,382/5 w.e.f 01.07.2009/5; @ Rs.9429/5 w.e.f 01.07.2014 (OROP) and Rs.24,233/5 w.e.f

01.01.2016 in the 7th CPC. Similarly, the Hony Nb Sub in Group5X CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-9-was entitled to have his pension fixed at Rs.10,115/5 w.e.f 01.01.2016 to 30.06.2014, after which he would draw a pension based on OROP. Xxx

¶46Referring to the query regarding the disparity in the OROP table, the counsel emphatically stated that the fixation of pension in the cases at hand had no connection with OROP. Не emphasized that once the pension was fixed as per the letter dated

21.02.2020/Circular No.631, it would automatically be assimilated by OROP as per the policy in vogue. Thus, the contention of the applicant that different parameters, had been adopted for fixing the pension of Hony Nb Sub in Group5X and Group5Y w.e.f. 01.07.2014 in the OROP table was incorrect The counsel stated that in preparing the OROP table applicable from 01.07.2014, the same principles and policies have been adopted for all ranks (Officers and JCOS/ORS). Elaborating on the principles of OROP, the counsel stated that pension was to be re5 fixed for all pensioners based on the average of minimum and maximum pension of retired personnel as per the live data of 2013 for OROP5I w.e.f. 01.07.2014 and as per the live data of 2018 for OROP5II w.e.f. 01.07.2019 in the same rank/group and with the same length of service. He further elaborated that wherever, the rates of higher qualifying service in a rank were lower than the rates of lower qualifying service in the same rank/group, or where data is/are blank for higher qualifying service, then the same has been protected by the higher rate of lower qualifying service in the same group. Thus, due to this, many rates in the same column appear equal. He further added that similarly, wherever the revised rate of pension under OROP is lower in the higher rank than the rate in the lower rank in the same qualifying service, then the same has been protected with higher rates of lower rank resulting in similar rate i two adjacent columns for certain qualifying service. Xxx

¶82As regards the observations on the OROP Table, the counsel for the respondents has explained the rationale. We have no hesitation in upholding the fact that once the pension of pre52006 Hony Nb Subs are re5fixed as per the Tables given in the notification dated

21.02.2020, their pension under OROP will be automatically scaled. We do not wish to examine the OROP issue any further as this is beyond the issue in Reference to this Large Bench." CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-10-

¶17However,othoughoinotheorelevantoparagrapho82,oasocarriedoin theojudgmentorenderedobyotheoFulloBenchoofotheoPrincipaloBench,oAFT, New o Delhi, o the o learned o Full o Bench o concerned, o proceeded o to unhesitatinglyouphold,otheofactothatoonceotheopensionoofopre-2006oHony. NaiboSubdars,oareore-fixedoasoperotheotablesogivenoinotheonotification datedo21.02.2020,othereuponsotheopensionoofotheo(supra)ounderoOROP scheme, o thus o become o automatically o scaled. o However, o in o the o last sentenceoofotheosaidoparagraph,otheoFulloBenchoofotheoPrincipaloBench, AFT,oNewoDelhi,odeclaredothatoitodoesonotointendotooexamineotheoOROP issueoanyofurtheroasothisoisobeyondotheoissueoinoreferenceotootheoFull Benchoconcerned.

¶18Though,otheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroargues,othat theo(supra)olastosentenceowhichooccursoinoparagrapho82oofotheoverdict pronouncedobyotheoFulloBenchoofotheoPrincipaloBench,oAFT,oNewoDelhi, thusomakesotheopriorotheretooobservationsorelatingotootheoupholdingsoof the o quantum o of o pension o endowed o vis-a-vis o pre-2006 o Hony. o Naib Subdars,owhichoisodeclaredotoobecomeocalculatedoinoconsonanceowithothe tableogivenoinotheonotificationodatedo21.02.2020,obesidesowithotheofurther declarationotherein,othatotherebysotheopensionounderoOROPowould becomeoautomaticallyoscaled,oratherotoobeoofonooconsequence,ogivenothe sameobeingoorbiterodicta.oInootherowords,oheosubmitsothatosinceotherebys theoearlierotheretooappositeoupholdings,othusoalsoobecomesoobiterodicta, asotheo(supra)olastosentenceomakesothem,otoobeosooconstrued.

¶19However,otheo(supra)oargumentoisomis-foundedointeroaliaofor theofollowingoreasons:- CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-11-a)oUnlessotheoupholdingso(supra)obecomeoreversedobyothe ApexoCourtothroughoaoSLPobecomingosuccessfullyomade thereagainstobyotheoaggrieved-petitioners,otherebyotheosaid upholdingoholdsoforce. b)oNeedlessotoostateothato(supra)olastosentenceowhichooccurs inoparagrapho82,owherebysotheoFulloBenchoofotheoPrincipal Bench,oAFT,oNewoDelhi,oproceededotoonotofurtherodilate uponotheoissueorelatingotooOROP,oonotheoground,othatothe sameoisobeyondotheoissueoinoreferenceotootheoFulloBench concerned,othusocannotodiluteotheostrengthoofotheoupholdings (supra),oasooccuroinotheopriorotheretoosentence,oespecially whenotheosaidosentenceoacquiresobindingoandoconclusive force,ogivenotheosameoremainingounsuccessfullyochallenged beforeotheoApexoCourt,oinotheoappositeoSLP,oratheroasoreared atotheoinstanceoofotheosoldiersoconcerned.o c)oItoisofurtheroneedlessotoostateothatotheosaidolastosentence,ois neitheroobiterodictaonoroitoovershadowsotheoeffectiveoimpact ofotheopriorotheretoobindingoandoconclusiveoupholdingsoof notification o dated o 21.02.2020 o nor o does o it o eclipse o the effectiveobindingodecisionomadeothereins,oquaotheopension of o the o retirees o under o the o OROP, o thus o becoming automaticallyobecomeoscaledobutoonlyouponotheomakingsoof revisionoofotheopensionsoofotheoregularoNaiboSubedars. d)oTheoaforesaidopenultimateosentenceowhichoasostated (supra), o acquires o complete o effectivity, o thus o is o also o in alignmentowithotheoappositeobestowmentomadeothrough CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-12-letterodatedo12.06.2009,owherebysovis-a-visotheohony.oRank ofoNaiboSubedar,oaodeclarationoisomadeothatotheosaid conferredohony.oRank,owillobeoonlyoaonotionalopromotionoto theohigherogradeoofoNaiboSubedaroandoonlyoforotheobenefit ofocomputationoofopension. e)oSinceotheoanswerso(supra),oasomadeotootheo(supra) referenceobyotheoFulloBenchoofotheoPrincipaloBench,oAFT, NewoDelhi,oalsoopronouncedotheorelevantoreckoners'ofor calculatingotheopensionovis-a-visotheoHony.oNaiboSubedars, inasmuch,oasotheosaido reckonero becomingo groovedoon calculationsoofopensionotootheoHony.oNaiboSubedars,orather beingomadeoatotheominimumoofotheopayoband,oincludingothe gradeopay,oMSPoandogroupopayoasoapplicableotootheoregular NaiboSubedars.oMoreover,owithotheocorrespondingorevision takingoplaceoinotheopensionotoobeoendowedotootheoregular NaiboSubedars,otherebysotheobenefitsoofotheosaidoescalations becomingoalsooconcomitantlyoendowedotootheoHonyoNaib Subedars,othusoisoinoconsonanceowithotheocircularo(supra), wherebysothereoisonoobreachotootheoprincipleoofoOROP.

¶20Consequently,otheoargumentoraisedobeforeothisoCourtobyothe learnedocounseloforotheopetitioner,othatotheosaidolastosentence,oisomerely obiterodictaoandonorotherebysoanyorelianceowasoamenableotoobeoplacedoon theopriorotheretoosentence,owhichooccursoinoparagrapho82oofotheoverdict renderedobyotheoFulloBenchoofotheoPrincipaloBench,oAFT,oNewoDelhi, butoisolegallyounworthwhile,oand,oasosuch,oisorejected.

¶21Inoconsequence,otheorevisionoofopensionoasoclaimedobyothe CWP-31879-2024 ooooo-13-presentopetitioneroinotermsoofoOROPoisoaopreomatureoclaimoandowould becomeobestowedouponohimoonlyouponotheohappeningooforevisionsoinothe pensionopayableotooaoregularoNaiboSubedar.oTheosaidoreasonoisothus completelyoinoalignmentowithotheo(supra)oextractedoanswers,oasobecome metedotootheorelevantoreference,othusobyotheoFulloBenchoofotheoPrincipal Bench,oAFT,oNewoDelhi,oespeciallyowhenotheosaidodecisionobecameoin totooaffirmedobyotheoApexoCourtoinoSLPo(supra).

¶22Inoaftermath,othisoCourtofindsonoomeritoinotheoinstantowrit petitionoandowithotheoobservation(s)oaforesaid,otheosameoisodismissed.oo oooooo o(SURESHWARoTHAKUR) ooooo ooooooJUDGE oooo(SUDEEPTIoSHARMA) ooooooJUDGE thJanuaryo18 ,o2025 ooooooo Whetherospeaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whetheroreportable : Yes/No