Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation rep by its Managing Director vs B. S. Reddy

Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2017 Supreme(SC) 832

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
ADARSH KUMAR GOEL, UDAY UMESH LALIT, JJ.
Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation rep by its Managing Director and others - Petitioners
Versus
B.S. Reddy - Respondent
Civil Appeal No. 3529 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C)No.32016 of 2016) With Civil Appeal No(s). 3428 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32077 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3429 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32430 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3430 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32484 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3431 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32552 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3432 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32547 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3433 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32587 of 2016) Civil Appeal No(s). 3434 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32590 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3435 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32591 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3436 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32705 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3437 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32722 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3438 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32736 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3439 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32762 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3440 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32776 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3441 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32780 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3446 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32966 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3447 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 32984 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3448 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33062 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3449 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33144 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3450 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33155 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3451 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33165 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3452 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33178 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3453 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33182 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3454 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33195 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3455 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33201 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3456 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33224 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3458 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33228 of 2016) Civil Appeal No(s). 3464 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 34050 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3465 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 34057 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3466 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 34098 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3467 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 33856 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3468 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 37911 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3469 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 38561 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3474 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 38598 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3475 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 38789 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3476 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 8 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3477 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 209 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3478 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 210 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3479 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 225 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3480 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 235 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3481 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 236 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3482 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 237 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3483 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 242 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3484 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 275 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3485 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 321 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3486 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 331 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3487 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 343 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3488 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 345 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3489 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 352 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3490 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2162 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3491 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 424 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3492 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2164 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3493 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 483 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3494 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 494 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3495 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 513 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3496 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 538 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3497 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 578 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3498 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 592 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3499 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 610 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3501 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 624 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3502 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 645 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3503 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 678 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3505 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 703 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3506 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2165 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3507 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2166 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3508 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2167 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3509 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2168 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3510 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2169 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3511 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 1150 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3512 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 1171 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3513 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 1193 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3514 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2170 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3515 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2171 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3516 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2161 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3517 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 2172 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3518 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 201 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3519 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 3720 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3520 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 3435 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3521 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 35543 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3522 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 38790 of 2016), Civil Appeal No(s). 3523 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 3434 of 2017), Civil Appeal No(s). 3524 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No.7142 of 2017), (CC No. 3285) Civil Appeal No(s). 3528 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No.7165 of 2017), (CC No. 3419) Civil Appeal No(s). 3527 of 2017 (Arising out of SLP(C) No.7164 of 2017), (CC No. 3450) With SLP(C) No. 32077/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32430/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32484/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32552/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32547/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32587/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32590/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32591/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32705/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32722/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32736/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32762/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32776/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32780/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32966/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 32984/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33062/2016 (With Interim Relief) SLP(C) No. 33144/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33155/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33165/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33178/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33182/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33195/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33201/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33224/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33228/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 34050/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 34057/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 34098/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 33856/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 37911/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 38561/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 38598/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 38789/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 8/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 209/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 210/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 225/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 235/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 236/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 237/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 242/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 275/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 321/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 331/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 343/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 345/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 352/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2162/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 424/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2164/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 483/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 494/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 513/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 538/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 578/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 592/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 610/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 624/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 645/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 678/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 703/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2165/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2166/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2167/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2168/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2169/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 1150/2017 (Office Report), SLP(C) No. 1171/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 1193/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2170/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2171/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2161/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 2172/2017 (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 201/2017 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 3720/2017 (Office Report), SLP(C) No. 3435/2017 (Office Report), SLP(C) No. 35543/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 38790/2016 (With Interim Relief and Office Report), SLP(C) No. 3434/2017 (Office Report), SLP(C).../2017(CC No. 3285) (With appln(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and office report), SLP(C)........../2017(CC No. 3419) (With appln(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and office report), SLP(C).........../2017(CC No. 3450) (With appln(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and office report).
Decided on : 23-02-2017

Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioners:Mr. K.V. Vishwanathan,Sr. Advocate, Mr. Sriharsha Peechara, Mr. Arjun Krishnan, Mr. Ashish Tiwari, Mr. A. Mukunda Rao, Advocates, Mr. Basva Prabhu Patil, Sr. Advocate, Mr. Venkateswara Rao Anumolu, Mr. Prabhakar Parnam, Advocates.
For the Respondents:Mr. Sateesh Galla, Ms. Uma Parasunna, Ms. Gusha Naidu, Mr. R.S. Bel, Advocates Mr. N. Rajaraman, AOR. Mr. Amit Kumar, Mr. A. Ramesh, Mr. Shaurya S., Mr. Syed Ahmad Nagi, Ms. Shilpi Gupta, Mr. Avijit Tripathi, Mr. Ganni Krishna, Mr. B. Ramana Murthy, Mr. K. Sita Rama Rao, Mr. Rahul Singh, Mr. Shree Pal Singh, Mr. Ch. Leela Sarveswar, Mr. D.V. Ramana Reddy, Mr. M.A. Chinnasamy, Advocates.

Headnote:Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995–Section 47 read with Section 2(i)–Benefits accorded to physically disabled–Ambit of–Benefit of Section 47 of Act will be available only to those who are covered by Section 2(i) of Act–No reason to hold that expression "disability" in Section 47 of Act is used in a different context so as not to go by definition given in Section 2(i) of Act. (Paras 3 to 5)
W.P. (C) No. 7880 of 2011; L.P.A. No. 1601 of 2005–Approved.
(2006) 4 MLJ 1669–Disapproved.

ORDER :

Delay condoned.

2. Leave granted.

3. We have heard learned counsel for the parties.

4. The issue raised in this set of cases is whether benefit of Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, is available to those covered by Section 2(i) of the said Act alone or applies even to persons not covered thereby.

5. The employees in question suffered disability during employment and they sought benefit of Section 47 of the Act to the effect that their services could not be dispensed with on account of the said disability, nor their rank could be reduced and they could only be shifted to some other post, with same pay-scale and service benefits. The claim was contested by the appellants-Transport Corporations with the plea that the benefit of Section 47 of the Act was available only to those covered by Section 2(i) which defines "disability". The said stand was supported on the basis of judgments of the High Court of Delhi in the cases of Hawa Singh v. Delhi Transport Corporation dated 3.2.2012 in W.P.(C)No.7880 of 2011 & Airport Authority of India v. Kumar Bharat Prasad Narain Singh dated 14.12.2005 in L.P.A. No. 1601 of 2005. The High Court of Delhi dissented from the judgment of the Madras High Court in G. Muthu v. Management of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai) Limited, (2006) 4 MLJ 1669 which lays down that the definition under Section 2(i) could not control the provision of Section 47 of the Act, as the context of Section 47 of the Act requires a different meaning to be given to the word "disability".

6. We are unable to subscribe to the view taken by the Madras High Court which has been followed in the impugned order and approve the view taken by the High Court of Delhi in Hawa Singh v. Delhi Transport Corporation & Airport Authority of India v. Kumar Bharat Prasad Narain Singh. We do not find any reason to hold that expression "disability" in Section 47 of the Act is used in a different context so as not to go by the definition given in Section 2(i) of the Act. We also note that even though Section 2(i) of the Act may not cover every disabled, scheme of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Transport Corporations covers even those employees who are not covered by Section 2(i) of the Act. Thus, those who are disabled within the meaning of Section 2(i) are not without any benefit whatsoever. They are, thus, entitled to invoke such schemes but not Section 47 of the Act.

7. In view of above, we allow these appeals in above terms and hold that the benefit of Section 47 of the Act will be available only to those who are covered by Section 2(i) of the Act. No costs.

8. It will be open for the appellants-Corporations to take decision on individual grievances of the employees and the employees are at liberty to take their remedies in terms of the above judgment.

9. Pending applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of.

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2017 Supreme(SC) 832

Cases Referred (1)