SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img



IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Manmohan, Asha Menon, JJ.
Satya Narayan - Appellant
Versus
Union of India - Respondent
W.P. (C) 10472 of 2020
Decided On : 15-03-2021




Individuals selected before the introduction of a new pension scheme are entitled to benefits under the Old Pension Scheme, ensuring equal treatment under the law.

Headnote:(A) Constitutional Law - Pension Schemes - Old Pension Scheme - Petitioners seeking benefit of Old Pension Scheme based on selection in 2003 - Court finds denial unjust as batchmates already receiving benefits under prior judgments - The petition speaks to equal treatment under the law. (Paras 1, 4, 6)

(B) Legal Framework - Court rules based on the timing of advertisement issued prior to the new pension scheme. (Paras 4, 6)

Facts of the case:
Petitioners selected as Const./GD in Border Security Force in 2003 seek extension of Old Pension Scheme benefits, having been denied despite peers receiving such benefits, which the court found unjust and inconsistent.

Findings of Court:
Petitioners are entitled to the Old Pension Scheme based on the selection date; the court directed consequential orders to be processed within eight weeks.

Issues: The central issue was whether petitioners were entitled to Old Pension Scheme benefits despite introduction of a new scheme post-selection.

Ratio Decidendi: The court highlighted that individuals selected before the new pension laws cannot be deprived of existing benefits and must be treated equally as their batchmates.

Result: Petition allowed.

Table of Content
1. writ petition for old pension scheme extension. (Para 1)
2. batchmates granted old pension scheme benefit. (Para 2)
3. court observes entitlement due to prior notification. (Para 3 , 4 , 5)
4. petition allowed, directive issued for implementation. (Para 6 , 7)

JUDGMENT

Manmohan, J. (Oral)

CM APPL. 33125/2020 (for exemption)

Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

Accordingly, present application stands disposed of.

W.P. (C) 10472/2020

1. Present writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to extend the benefit of Old Pension Scheme to the petitioners who were selected as Const./GD in Border Security Force pursuant to Recruitment held in November, 2003 by Frontier Headquarters BSF, Rajasthan and Gujarat in August, 2003 as the petitioners are identically placed as the petitioners in the case of Tanaka Ram & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors., W.P.(C) No.6680/2017 having been selected pursuant to the same selection process.

2. Learned counsel for petitioners states that batchmates of most of the petitioners have been given benefit of Old Pension Scheme under various judgments passed by this Court in Patil Gopal Babulal & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors., W.P.(C) 11646/2018, Tanaka Ram & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors., 2019(174) DRJ 146 (DB); Shyam Kumar Choudhary & Ors. vs. Union of India being W.P.(C) No.1358 of 2017 and Niraj Kumar Singh & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors., W.P.(C) No.13129/2019.

3. Learned counsel for the respondents prays for further time to file a counter-affidavit and verify the facts. However, since the batch of petitions on the same issue has already been disposed of, the prayer for time to file a counter-affidavit is declined.

4. Having regard to the fact that the present case also the advertisement/notification was issued in August, 2003 i.e. prior to introduction of the new Contributory Pension Scheme dated 22nd December, 2003 which came into force w.e.f. 01st January, 2004, this Court is of the view the petitioner cannot be deprived of the benefit of the Old Pension Scheme.

5. This is more so when the batchmates of the petitioners are getting this benefit under various judgments passed by this Court.

6. For the above reason, the petition is allowed and respondent is directed to extend the benefit of Old Pension Scheme to the petitioners and pass consequential orders within eight weeks from today.

7. Accordingly, present petition is disposed of.

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top