JUDGEMENT

TARA VITASTA GANJU, J.:

1. The present Appeal has been filed by the Appellants impugning an order dated 05.09.2013 [hereinafter referred to as “Impugned Order”] passed by the learned Single Judge, whereby the Petition filed by the Petitioners/Appellants praying that they should be granted benefits of the Central Government Health Scheme, 1954 [hereinafter referred to as “CGH Scheme”], was dismissed by the learned Single Judge.

2. The Petitioners [10 in number] were the erstwhile employees of Page 2 of 16 Respondent No.2, the Central Silk Board [hereinafter referred to as “Respondent No.2/CSB”] who have since retired. The Respondent No.2/CSB is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India/Respondent No.1. Respondent No.2/CSB was established in 1948 under the Central Silk Board Act, 1948 and their employees draw salary and their pensions from the consolidated fund of the Government of India.

3. A Coordinate Bench of this Court on 14.03.2014 admitted this Appeal. The Appeal was thereafter dismissed in default for non- prosecution on 26.09.2019 and subsequently, restored on 18.10.2023 and heard by this Cou