CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL CHENNAI BENCH OA/310/01049 1050 1051 1080 1081 1148 1149 AND 1513/2024 Dated this the 28^th day of November, Two Thousand Twenty Five CORAM :

HON'BLE MR M. SWAMINATHAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER R. Santhanakrishnan, TT (Retired), PPO No.602020012205175 HR No.199200793, W2, 41, Zamin Thoppu Road, Bodi, Bodinayakanur, Theni .. Applicant in OA 1049/2024 R. Balaguru, TT (Retired), PPO No.602020012203699 HR No.199200796, 3/461, Meena Vilakku, B Anaikarai Patti (post)

Bodinayakanur, Theni .. Applicant in OA 1050/2024 R. Harikrishnan, TT (Retired), PPO No.602020012207419 HR No.199201740, W2, 41, Zamin Thoppu Road, Bodi, Bodinayakanur, Theni .. Applicant in OA 1051/2024 G. Rajendran, TT (Retired), PPO No.602020012203259, HR No.199200320, 385/1, Mayon Nagar Madurai Road, Thirumangalam, Madurai .. Applicant in OA .1080/2024 D. Gnanasekaran, TT (Retired), PPO No.602020012204142, HR No.199300319, D/No. M2, 291, Vanavil Street, TNHB Colony, Koodalpudur, Anaiyur, Madurai .. Applicant in OA1081/2024 R. Chandrasekar. TT (Retired), PPO No.602020012205745, HR No.199300766, st

3B Vaniar 1 lane, Nethaji Road, Madurai .. Applicant in OA 1148/2024 S. Jothinathan, TT (Retired), PPO No.602020012207775, HR No.199300108, Plot No.13, NP Nagar, Kosakulam, Anaiyur Post Madurai .. Applicant in OA 1149/2024 K. Balasubramanian, TT (Retired), PPO No.602024041212560.

HR No.199401766, 3-7-11, Opp to Canara Bank, Main Road, Kodai Road, Dindigul .. Applicant in OA1513/2024 By Advocate M/s. A. Balaji, S. Anbazhagan, J. Vivek, : S. Saravanakumar & S. Viljoen Ajit Vs.

1.Union of India rep by its The secretary, DOT, Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Asoka Road, New Delhi.

2. The principal controller of Communication Accounts, Department of Telecommunications, O/o PCCA, Tamil Nadu Circle,

st

1 Floor, TNT Complex, 60, Ethiraj Salai,

Chennai.

3. The Chief General Manager, BSNL, Tamil Nadu Circle, th

7 Floor, ADMN Building, 16, Greams Road, Chennai.

4. The General Manager, BSNL, Madurai.

5. The Accounts Officer (Pension)

O/o PGM, BSNL, Madurai .. Respondents By Advocate Mr. Su Srinivasan, SCGSC Mr. K. Rajendran, SCGSC Mr. M. Kishore Kumar, SPC Mr. G. Dhamodaran Mr. R.S. Krishnaswamy

ORDER

(Pronounced by Hon'ble Mr. M. Swaminathan, Judicial Member)

An identical relief is prayed for in all these Original Applications, which is founded on similar facts and circumstances, these applications were heard together and are being disposed of by this common order.

2. The applicants are seeking the following relief:

“to call for the records relating to the impugned nd orders passed by the 2 respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents to fix the pension on the basis of the Original Last Pay Drawn to the petitioners by verifying the emoluments only 23 months prior to date of their retirement as per the statutory rules and pass further or any other order as deemed fit in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice.”

3. Brief facts of the case, as submitted by the applicants are as follows:

The Applicants submit that they were appointed between 1992 and 1994 in the Department of Telecom (DoT) on a regular basis. They were initially placed as Linemen and subsequently promoted as Phone Mechanics in the Department of Telecom, continuing in these posts until the formation of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Upon the formation of BSNL on 01.10.2000, all the Applicants opted to join BSNL. Thereafter, they were appointed as Telecom Technicians in the office of the Sub-Divisional Engineer, BSNL, at various locations. During their service, the Applicants worked to the utmost satisfaction of the department and had unblemished records. All the Applicants, except the Applicant in OA No.1513/2024, opted for the VRS-2019 scheme introduced by the Government and retired on 31.01.2020. The Applicant in OA No.1513/2024 superannuated on 30.04.2024. Each of the Applicants has rendered more than 28 years of service. At the time of retirement, the Applicants were drawin