IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT
R. Balia, J.
Tribhovanbhai Jerambhai - Petitioner
Versus
Dy. Executive Engineer, Sub-Division, R & B Deptt. and Anr. - Respondents
Special Civil Application No. 5623 of 1997
Decided On : 31-03-1998
Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 - Section 25B – Petition - Relates to travails of a person who has been in the employment - Still awaiting for his retiral benefits in terms - Order, revealing a pathetic insensitivity towards the fellow employees who has superannuated and look for a peaceful and quiet life at the twilight of his life banking upon the retiral benefits assured under the relevant rules and orders of the State authorities themselves – Dispute - Mostly as a daily rated workman - Treated permanent in terms - was treated permanent in terms retired on completing sixty years - After laying the claim before the Assistant Labour Commissioner and Provident Fund Commissioner his retiral benefits in the form of gratuity and provident fund contributions were determined and paid by treating the period of service rendered by the petitioner – Held, There is yet another aspect of the matter. Assuming that Bombay Civil Services Rules do not provide for grant of pension to those, who are not holding a permanent post in the service, then it must be held that daily rated workman working on daily wages, are ex cadre employees and not governed by particular service rules, but are governed by terms of employment under which they have been engaged. This further leads to conclusion that area of employment on daily wages is not covered by statutory rules either promulgated under Act 309 or by other legislature enactment. That is the area left uncovered by specific law, and such employment is in exercise of general executive powers of the State and terms and conditions of such employment is governed by terms of order under which such employment is made and shall be further governed by orders made by State in exercise of its executive power from time to time. The resolution dated 17.10.88 and 30.5.89 shall thus govern the terms of employment of such employees. If considered from this view, the conclusion will be the same Accordingly, this petition is allowed.
JUDGMENT :
R. Balia, J.
The petition relates to travails of a person who has been in the employment of the State Government for almost 28 years and still awaiting for his retiral benefits in terms of the Government's order, revealing a pathetic insensitivity towards the fellow employees who has superannuated and look for a peaceful and quiet life at the twilight of his life banking upon the retiral benefits assured under the relevant rules and orders of the State authorities themselves.
2. The facts which are not in dispute are that the petitioner had been in service of the State Government mostly as a daily rated workman since 1966 until he was treated permanent in terms of Government Resolution dated 17.10.1988 and retired on completing sixty years on 31.1.1994. After laying the claim before the Assistant Labour Commissioner and Provident Fund Commissioner his retiral benefits in the form of gratuity and provident fund contributions were determined and paid by treating the period of service rendered by the petitioner from 1966 to 1994. However, the pension, the regular source of income to maintain a retired employee had not so far not been granted. In fact, an attempt has been made to show that the petitioner is not entitled to pensionary benefit because he has not completed qualifying service as per the award read in the light of Bombay Civil Services Rules governing the grant of pension.
3. Though initially the learned counsel for the respondent tentatively sought to urge that as on the date of retirement on 31.1.1994 the petitioner has not completed 10 years of service as daily rated employee and he cannot be treated as permanent in terms of resolution dated 17.10.1966. But when it was pointed out that in reply the respondents have admitted that the petitioner was a daily wager for the period of 1966 to 1987. It is further revealed from the reply that though department initially treated the petitioner in employment as daily rated workman on work charge establishment with effect from 16.4.1987 only, and paid gratuity for that period only, ultimately on a dispute having been raised in that regard the petitioner was held to be in service with effect from 1966 and gratuity was paid for the entire period from 1966 to 1994, the learned counsel candidly stated that the fact that petitioner was in service of respondents since 1966 cannot be disputed. This further makes it clear that as on date resolutions dated 17.10.1988 was made by the Government the petitioner had been in employment of State for more than ten years as daily rated employee, entitled to be treated as permanent.
4. The short question which concerns the issue before me is whether the petitioner is entitled to pension or not. Primarily, the question of pension in pensionable service has been determined under Section III of the Bombay Civil Services Rules, 1959 commencing from Rule 230 onwards. It has been contended by the learned counsel for the respondents that the petitioner being on daily wages, was not holding a pensionable service under Section 230 nor he falls in the exception to the Rule provided thereunder, therefore, the services rendered on daily wages basis prior to his becoming permanent cannot be considered as qualifying service for the purpose of pension.
5. It was urged also that the service has been declared as pensionable by the resolution dated 17.10.1988 by the Government, which deems a daily rated workman on completion of ten years service as on 1.10.1988 or thereafter as deemed to be in permanent service and has been made entitled to pension. However, for the purpose of entitlement of pension under resolution the service on regular basis only has to be counted for determining qualifying service and entitled to pension. As the petitioner has not been on permanent basis after he can be deemed to have become permanent as on 1.10.1988, for the qualifying period of ten years he is not entitled to pension.
6. This plea, in my opinion, cannot be sustained be
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