IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side Present :- Hon’ble Justice Amrita Sinha WPA No. 16869 of 2023 Samir Bhowmik & Ors.

Vs.

The Union of India & Ors.

For the writ petitioners :- Mr. Mukul Lahiri, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Durga Prasad Dutta, Adv.

Mr. Souvik Sen, Adv.

For the respondents/DVC :- Mr. Pradip Tarafdar, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Subir Pal, Adv.

Hearing concluded on :- 24.04.2026 Judgment on :- 28.04.2026 Amrita Sinha, J.:-

1. The order dated 2nd May, 2025, passed by the Executive Director, Damodar Valley Corporation (hereinafter referred to as ‘DVC’) rejecting the prayer of the petitioners to switch over from the Contributory Provident Fund Scheme (hereinafter referred to as ‘CPF’) to the General Provident Fund Scheme (hereinafter referred to as ‘GPF’) is impugned in the instant writ petition.

2. The petitioners are all retired employees of DVC. Their date of retirement ranges between 2008 and 2020. During their service tenure all the employees of DVC were given opportunity to exercise their option, either to continue with CPF or to switch over to GPF scheme. The petitioners did not exercise their option to join the GPF scheme. After their superannuation they recei