Point of Law: Death-cum-retirement gratuity - Benefit of gratuity - If husband of petitioner died before attaining the age of 60 years and has not given option for retirement at the age of 60 years, gratuity cannot be denied only on this ground.

JUDGMENT :

Manoj Misra, J.

1. This intra-court appeal arises from a judgment and order of a Single Judge dated 02.02.2021 in Writ-A No.11578 of 2020 whereby, the writ petition of the first respondent was allowed with a direction upon the District Basic Education Officer, Basti (first appellant) and the Finance and Account Officer (Basic Education), Basti (second appellant) to compute the amount payable to the petitioner towards gratuity in terms of the scheme formulated by the Government Order dated September 16, 2009 and release the same along with interest at the rate of 8% per annum from the date of filing the application for gratuity till the amount is actually disbursed.

2. In brief, the facts giving rise to the appeal are as follows:-

2. (i). The husband of the first respondent was appointed as Assistant Teacher on 11.03.1974 in a basic school under the Basic Shiksha Parishad, Uttar Pradesh. Later, he was promoted on the post of Headmaster. Initially, the age of superannuation was 58 years which was enhanced to 60 years and, later, to 62 years. Before enhancement of the age of superannuation to 62 years, by Government Order No.6369/15-5-93-55/89, dated 23.11.1994, the benefit of gratuity was introduced to teaching and non teaching staff of basic education institutions for those who opt to retire on attaining the age of 58 years. Such option, as per Clause 2 of the Government Order, dated 23.11.1994, was to be exercised within 90 days from the issuance of the Government Order. This period, however, was extended by Government Order No.5491/15-5-2002-212/2001, dated 10.06.2002, extracted below:-

^^f'k{kk vuqHkkx&5 la[;k&5491@15 & 5&2002&212@2001] fnaukd 10 twu] 2002
isz"kd]
fnus'k pUnz dukSft;k]
fo'ks"k lfpo]
mRrj izns'k 'kklu]
bykgkckn
lsok esa]
f'k{kk funs'kd] ¼csfld½ ,oa v/;{k]
mRrj izns'k csfld f'k{kk ifj"kn~]
bykgkcknA
fo"k;% mRrj izns'k csfld f'k{kk ifj"knh; f'k{kd@f'k{k.ksRrj deZpkfj;ksa ds lsokfuo`frd ykHkkas esa ifjorZu gsrq fodYi dh lqfo/kk fn;s tkus ds laca/k esa uhfr fu/kkZj.kA
egksn;]
mi;qZDr fo"k;d 'kklukns'k la[;k& 6369@15&5&93&55@89] fnukad 23-11-1994 ds vuqdze esa eq>s ;g dgus dk funs'k gqvk gS fd mDr 'kklukns'k }kjk iznRr fodYi dks lqfo/kk ds ykHk ls oafpr jg x;s csfld f'k{kk ifj"kn f'k{kd@f'k{k.ksRrj deZpkfj;ksa ds laca/k esa fodYi ifjorZu dh lqfo/kk iznku fd;s tkus dh ekax ij lE;d~ fopkjksijkUr Jh jkT;iky ;g vkns'k iznku djrs gSa fd m0iz0 csfld f'k{kk ifj"knh; f'k{kdks@f'k{k.ksRrj deZpkfj;ksa }kjk lsokfuo`fRr ds ,d o"kZ vFkkZr~ ftl 'kSf{kd l= eas mudh lsokfuo`fRr gksxh] mldks igyh tqykbZ rd fodYi ifjorZu dj ldrs gSaA fdUrq ,sls deZpkjh tks 58 o"kZ dh vk;q ij lsokfuo`fRr dk fodYi nsrs gSa] dks lsokfuo`fRr ds iwoZ rd fodYi ifjorZu dh lqfo/kk vuqeU; gksxhA ;g O;oLFkk bl 'kklukns'k ds tkjh gksus dh frfFk ls ykxw gksxhA
2- ;g vkns'k foRr foHkkx ds v'kkldh; la[;k&bZ&11@753 nl&2002] fnukad 4-6-2002 esa izkIr mudh lgefr ls tkjh fd;s tk jgs gSaA
Hkonh;
¼fnus'k pUnz dukSft;k½
fo'ks"k lfpoA

2 (ii). Thereafter, on February 4, 2004, Government Order No.289/79-6-04-28(5)/2004 was issued enhancing the age of superannuation from 60 years to 62 years and, further, clarifying that the retiral dues that were to be available on attaining the age of 58 years would now be available at the age of 60 years; and those retiral dues that were to be available at the age of 60 years would now be available at the age of 62 years. The said Government Order is extracted below:-

^^csfld ,oa lgk;rk izkIr mPp izkFkfed fo|ky;ksa ds f'k{kdks a dh lsok fuo`fRr
vk;q 60@62 o"kZ
la[;k 289@79&6&04&28¼5½@2004

fo"k; % ifj"knh; izkFkfed fo|ky;] ifj"knh; mPp izkFkfed fo|ky; rFkk mPp izkFkfed fo|ky;ksa ds v/;kidksa dh vf/ko"kZrk vk;q orZeku 60 o"kZ ls 62 o"kZ fd;s tkus ds lEcU/k es