IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT CALCUTTA
MD. NIZAMUDDIN, J.
Debdas Saha – Appellant
Versus
State of West Bengal and Others – Respondents
Writ Petition No. 10717 of 2015
Decided On : 15-11-2019
APPROVAL - Employment Status - West Bengal Municipal Act, 1993, Section 54(3A) - G.O. no. 411/P2-P/18/85 dated 17.05.1986 - Memo no. 207/MA/O/C-4/1A-7/2000 dated 7th May, 2009 - Memo no. 422/MA/O/C4/1A-7/2000 dated 19.08.2009 - The court held that the petitioner's appointment did not require approval of the State Government as per the Government orders dated 7th May, 2009 and 19th August, 2009. The action of the respondent Municipality seeking approval of the State Government and denying post retiral benefits to the petitioner was held to be discriminatory and in total non-application of mind.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner was initially appointed as Clerk in the Chakdaha Municipality on consolidated payment. He was later absorbed as a permanent ledger clerk. The respondent Municipality denied post retiral benefits to the petitioner, claiming that his appointment was not approved by the State Authorities.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the petitioner's appointment did not require approval of the State Government as per the Government orders dated 7th May, 2009 and 19th August, 2009. The action of the respondent Municipality seeking approval of the State Government and denying post retiral benefits to the petitioner was held to be discriminatory and in total non-application of mind.
Issues: The main issue was whether the petitioner's appointment required approval of the State Government and if the denial of post retiral benefits was justified.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the petitioner's appointment did not require approval of the State Government as per the Government orders dated 7th May, 2009 and 19th August, 2009. The action of the respondent Municipality seeking approval of the State Government and denying post retiral benefits to the petitioner was held to be discriminatory and in total non-application of mind.
Final Decision: The court quashed the impugned undated order and directed the Director of Local Bodies to grant post facto approval to the petitioner's appointment and to make payment of all post retiral benefits including pension to him as a permanent employee of the respondent Municipality within 12 weeks from the date of communication of the order.
JUDGMENT :
MD. NIZAMUDDIN, J.
1. Heard both sides.
2. Relevant facts involved in brief in this case as appears on perusal of relevant records are hereunder.
3. The Writ petitioner was initially appointed as Clerk in the Chakdaha Municipality since 16.11.1988 to 31.07.1996 on consolidated payment.
4. It is the case of the petitioner that he was absorbed with effect from 01.08.1996 as permanent ledger clerk by a memo no. 305/C.M. dated 30.07.1996 issued by the Chairman, Chakdaha Municipality/respondent no. 5 and that his appointment was made in accordance with law and by observing the required formalities and has served the respondent Municipality for more than 26 years as a permanent employee in sanctioned post and has been retired from service on 28.02.2014 but all post retiral benefits have been denied to him illegally and has been subjected to discrimination also.
5. It appears on perusal of the service book of the petitioner annexed to the Writ Petition including a certificate dated 27.02.2013 issued by the Chairman of the Chakdaha Municipality/respondent no. 5 wherein it has been specifically mentioned about the petitioner that:
"This is to certify that SRI DEBDAS SAHA, son of Late Durga Pada Saha of Kalyannagar P.O. Madanpur, P.S. Chakdaha, Dist. Nadia, W.B. is the employee of Chakdaha Municipality.
His Designation is Ledger Clerk and initially he was appointed on a fixed pay mainly because no scale of pay was prescribed for the post in which he was appointed.
I also certify that the service rendered by him to this Municipality for the period from 16.11.1988 to 31.07.1996 on fixed pay was whole time and it counts towards qualifying service for pension."
6. It also appears from memo no. 207/MA/O/C-4/1A-7/2000 dated 7th May, 2009 issued by the Government of West Bengal, Department of Municipal Affairs an order was passed, which reads as:
AND WHEREAS in absence of approval of the State Government the Municipalities are facing difficulties relating to the finalization of pension cases of the retired employees;
AND WHEREAS processing of such cases by the Directorate of Local Bodies with the approval of this Department, taking considerable time.
NOW THEREFORE, The Governor, for quick disposal of all pending cases, is pleased hereby to authorize the Director of Local Bodies, West Bengal to issue orders according post facto approval of appointments/promotions made by the Municipalities against sanctioned vacancies holding erstwhile scale of pay Rs. 380/- - 910/-, since revised to Rs. 4,000/- - 8,850/-, and below within the aforesaid period on case to case basis after due examination/enquiry."
7. It appears that by a further memo being no. 422/MA/O/C4/1A-7/2000 dated 19.08.2009 an amendment was made to the aforesaid Memo dated 7th May, 2009 thereby inserting, inter alia, a paragraph:
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