J U D G M E N T

Petitioner retired from the services of the Coffee Board at Bodinayakanur, while working as Senior Clerk in the office of Senior Liaison Officer therein. She had availed voluntary retirement under the VRS Scheme which was originally open till 07-11-1994 but later extended. She had been granted an ex- gratia payment equivalent to three months' emoluments for each completed year of service.

2. The petitioner was paid an amount of Rs.3,18,816/- in this regard. But, later, claiming that ex-gratia should have been calculated in the revised scheme, she made a request to the Coffee Board for disbursal of the amount calculated on the said basis. This claim was considered and by Ext.P6 order dated 07- 06-1999, the same was rejected. Relevant portion of Ext.P6 reads as follows:-

“ In this connection, this is to inform you that the payment of ex-gratia is applicable only in the pre-revised scale and not in the revised WPC.27870/09 pay scales, since the 'Coffee Board Voluntary Retirement Scheme' was introduced during the year 1994 and at that time there was no implementation of revised pay scales.

Further, the Board has taken a decision at its meeting held on 5-12-1996 and passed a