2014 Supreme(Guj) 71
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT
C.L. Soni, J.
Kulinchandra M. Dholakia - Appellants
Vs.
State of Gujarat - Respondent
Special Civil Application No. 6809 of 1999
Decided On: 24.02.2014
For Appellant/Petitioner/Plaintiff: Biren A. Vaishnav and Arti H. Nanavati
For Respondents/Defendant: Niraj Ashar, A.G.P. and D.C. Dave
Headnote:
Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 226 – Declare that the action of the respondents in No. counting the service of the petitioner as qualifying service for the purpose of Pension and other benefits, as illegal and unconstitutional.– Held, Non services are rendered by any employee including past services in any of institutions covered by resolution such services cannot be considered for purpose of pension under resolution – For counting length of services for pension, respondent has rightly excluded services rendered by petitioner in institution – No dispute about fact that petitioner rendered his services from 1961 to 1984 in Institute of Technology and Science – No error in action of respondent in Non considering services rendered by petitioner in institute – Not covered by resolution for purpose of pension –Petitioner cannot be given any relief prayed by him in present petition – Petition Dismissed
C.L. Soni, J.
1. In this petition filed under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has prayed for following reliefs in Para No. 5:
"5(A) Allow this petition.
(B) Declare that the action of the respondents in not counting the service of the petitioner as qualifying service from 10-8-1961 to 15-12-1984 for the purpose of pension and other benefits, as illegal and unconstitutional.
(C) Declare that as per Government Resolution dated 17-12-1987 at Annexure-I, the service rendered by the petitioner as an Asstt. Professor and Professor in Birla Institute of Technology & Science at Pilani i.e. a period from 10-8-1961 to 15-12-1984 be considered as qualifying service for pension and other benefits.
(D) Direct the respondents to consider the service of the petitioner rendered at B.I.T.S. from 10-8-1961 to 15-12-1984 as qualifying service for the pension and accordingly direct them to revise the pension of the petitioner and pay to the petitioner the difference of arrears of pension."
The brief facts relevant for the purpose of deciding the petition are that the petitioner was appointed as Demonstrator on 25-9-1958 in M. S. University, where he continued upto 1961. On 10-8-1961 he joined Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (Rajasthan). Subsequently, the Birla Institute and other two colleges were amalgamated and were declared as deemed University i.e. Birla Institute of Technology and Science. The petitioner then joined Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya at Vallabhvidyanagar, Gujarat, with effect from 17-12-1984 and retired as Principal from the said institution on 31-12-1992. The petitioner has averred that on 17-12-1987, the Government of Gujarat issued resolution introducing pension scheme for teaching and non-teaching staff of non-Government Engineering Colleges and Polytechnics. The Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya, Vallabhvidyanagar the respondent No. 4 is one of the institutes covered therein for the scheme of pension. The petitioner has further averred that after the petitioner joined the respondent No. 4, he was asked to deposit C.P.F. contribution to enable the State to include the petitioner in the pension scheme. The petitioner, therefore, deposited C.P.F. contribution received by him with interest in Sub-Treasury at Anand. Thereafter, the pension papers of the petitioner for his 34 years of service were prepared and the Director of Technical Education, after proper verification forwarded his pension papers to the Director of Pay and Pension-respondent No. 3. However, respondent No. 3 did not consider service of about 23 years for the period from 1961 to 1984 for the purpose of pension. The Director of Technical Education, therefore, passed an order for refund of the C.P.F. amount deposited by the petitioner. The petitioner accepted the said amount without prejudice to his rights to challenge the action of the respondent No. 3 in not considering his service from 1961 to 1984 for the purpose of pension. It is the case of the petitioner that as per Clause 8 of the Resolution dated 17-12-1987 services rendered by him prior to joining the respondent No. 4 institution is required to be considered for the purpose of pension and other benefits.
2. I have heard learned Advocates for the parties.
3. Learned Advocate Mr. Vaishnav appearing for the petitioner submitted that when the Government brought in the scheme of pension vide Resolution dated 17-12-1987 for teaching and non-teaching staff of Government Engineering Colleges and Polytechnics, the petitioner was in service of the respondent No. 4-Institution, which is covered by the said resolution and therefore, the petitioner stood governed by the pension scheme. Mr. Vaishnav submitted that by virtue of Clause 8 of the Resolution dated 17-12-1987, the services rendered by the petitioner from 1961 to 1984 before he joined the respondent No. 4-Institution, were required to be considered for the purpose of his pension. Mr. Vaishnav submitted on wrong interpr