Jawahar Lal Gupta, J.

1. The petitioner prayed for the issue of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to consider his claim for the grant of pension after taking into account the period of service rendered by him on work-charge basis. A few facts may be noticed.

2. The petitioner joined the service of the Punjab State Electricity Board as T-Mate on work charge basis in the year 1957. On May 10, 1974, the petitioner was regularised as on Oil Cleaner (Shift Attendant). He retired from the service of the respondent-Board on August 31, 1983. He submitted representations for the grant of pension. The claim having been rejected by the authorities he has approached this Court through the present writ petition.

3. The respondent have filed a written statement. A copy is, however, not available on the record of this case. A copy of the written statement as now supplied by the learned counsel for the respondents is taken on record. A perusal of this written statement shows that the factual position is not disputed. However the petitioners claim has been contested inter alia on the grounds that the petition is belated and that the period of service rendered on wor