TMI Blog2011 (2) TMI 1372X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... lant is eligible and entitled for the pensionary benefits under the Allahabad Bank Employees Pension Scheme, 1890 [hereinafter referred to as Old Pension Scheme ] in terms of the Allahabad Bank Officers Service Regulations, 1979 [hereinafter referred to as the 1979 Regulations ]. 4) The factual matrix in brief is as under : The appellant was appointed as a Clerk in the Nainital Branch of the Allahabad Bank, the respondent herein, on 21.02.1976. Subsequently, the appellant was promoted to the post of JMG-Scale-I Officer Grade on 02.05.1983. The services of the appellant, after promotion, were governed by the 1979 Regulations. The Regulation 46 of 1979 Regulations provides retirees an option of gratuity or pension in lieu thereof, and further, the pension benefits for the retirees opting for pension are available under the Old Pension Scheme. Pursuant to the Tripartite Memorandum of Settlement [hereinafter referred to as the Tripartite Settlement ], among the management, workers and officers of the various banks dated 29.10.1993, the respondent formulated a draft/proposed Allahabad Bank Employees (Pension) Regulation 1993 [hereinafter referred to as the draft/proposed 1993 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... om 25 years to 15 years for sanction of proportionate pension under Old Pension Scheme to retirees under the VRS-2000. In view of this, the appellant again requested vide letter dated 06.08.2002 to the competent authority for the grant of pension under the Old Pension Scheme and the same was rejected in terms of Regulation 46 of the 1979 Regulations. The appellant further made representations before the Chairman and Managing Director of the respondent vide letters dated 16.08.2006 and 19.03.2007, which were rejected by the Assistant General Manager vide letter dated 05.04.2007 on the ground that the appellant was not eligible to claim pension under the Old Pension Scheme in terms of the 1979 Regulations. Being aggrieved, the appellant approached the High Court of Uttarakhand by filing a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and the same was partly allowed by the judgment and order dated 25.02.2009, wherein the High Court directed the respondent to pay gratuity to the appellant as per Regulation 46(2) of the 1979 Regulations after adjusting the amount of gratuity already paid to the appellant in terms of Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. The appellant, aggrieved ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ms of Regulation 46 (1) of the 1979 Regulations as the appellant had admittedly become officer after 01.07.1979 on his promotion on 02.05.1983. It is also submitted that the appellant, prior to his promotion, was a Clerk with the respondent on the appointed date in terms of the said Regulation 46 (1). Hence, the appellant cannot claim any pensionary benefit under the Old Pension Scheme. In response to appellant's alternative submissions, the learned counsel for the respondent submits that Section 12 (2) of the Banking Act was introduced in 1970 after nationalization of the Banks. Section 12 (2) of the Banking Act cannot be invoked by appellant as Regulation 46 of the 1979 Regulations was introduced on 01.07.1979 only for officers whereas the appellant became officer only in 1983 by way of promotion. In other words, the appellant, being a Clerk at the relevant time when the said Regulation 46 was introduced as applicable to officers, cannot challenge its vires on the touchstone of Section 12 (2) of the Banking Act. The learned counsel further submits that the Regulation 46 (1) of 1979 Regulations is in harmony with Article 14 of the Constitution of India. 8) We have carefull ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ct that under the terms of appointment, the employee was not entitled to the benefit of pension or retirement. 10) This Court, in Union of India v. P.N. Menon, (1994) 4 SCC 68, has held: 8. Whenever the Government or an authority, which can be held to be a State within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution, frames a scheme for persons who have superannuated from service, due to many constraints, it is not always possible to extend the same benefits to one and all, irrespective of the dates of superannuation. As such any revised scheme in respect of post-retirement benefits, if implemented with a cut-off date, which can be held to be reasonable and rational in the light of Article 14 of the Constitution, need not be held to be invalid. It shall not amount to picking out a date from the hat , as was said by this Court in the case of D.R. Nim v. Union of India, (1967) 2 SCR 325, in connection with fixation of seniority. Whenever a revision takes place, a cut-off date becomes imperative because the benefit has to be allowed within the financial resources available with the Government. The Court further observed: 14...No scheme can be held to be foolproof, so as ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ers of their own accord had opted for the choice given to them and the principle enunciated in D.S. Nakara case (1983) 1 SCC 305 cannot be applied in the case of the petitioners. 13) In All India Reserve Bank Retired Officers' Association v. Union of India, 1992 Supp (1) SCC 664, the Retired Officers' Association of the Reserve Bank of India questioned the validity of introduction of pension scheme in lieu of Contributory Provident Fund Scheme. The bank employees, who retired prior to 01.01.1986, had not been given benefit of the said Pension Scheme. This Court held that the said cut-off date was neither arbitrary nor artificial or whimsical. It was further observed: 10. ... The underlying principle is that when the State decides to revise and liberalise an existing pension scheme with a view to augmenting the social security cover granted to pensioners, it cannot ordinarily grant the benefit to a Section of the pensioners and deny the same to others by drawing an artificial cut-off line which cannot be justified on rational grounds and is wholly unconnected with the object intended to be achieved. But when an employer introduces an entirely new scheme which has no ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... arbitrary. This Court held: In the case of Indian Ex-Services League v. Union of India (1991) 2 SCC 104 this Court distinguished the decision in Nakara case (1983) 1 SCC 305 and held that the ambit of that decision cannot be enlarged to cover all claim by retirees or a demand for an identical amount of pension to every retiree, irrespective of the date of retirement even though the emoluments for the purpose of computation of pension be different. We need not cite other subsequent decisions which have also distinguished Nakara case (1983) 1 SCC 305. The latest decision is in the case of K.L. Rathee v. Union of India (1997) 6 SCC 7 where this Court, after referring to various judgments of this Court, has held that Nakara case (1983) 1 SCC 305 cannot be interpreted to mean that emoluments of persons who retired after a notified date holding the same status, must be treated to be the same. The respondents are not entitled to claim benefits which became available at a much later date to retiring employees by reason of changes in the rules relating to pensionary benefits. 17) In State of Punjab v. J.L. Gupta, (2000) 3 SCC 736, this Court reiterating the views expressed in Boota ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ain Sections of the employees. This argument is no longer res integra. It has been held in a catena of judgments that fixing of a cut-off date for granting of benefits is well within the powers of the Government as long as the reasons therefor are not arbitrary and are based on some rational consideration. 21) We have sympathies for the appellant but, in a society governed by Rule of law, sympathies cannot override the Rules and Regulations. We may recall the observations made by this Court while considering the issue of compassionate appointment in public service. In Life Insurance Corporation of India v. Asha Ramachhandra Ambekar and Anr. (1994) 2 SCC 718, wherein the Court observed: The High Courts and the Administrative Tribunals cannot confer benediction impelled by sympathetic consideration.... Yielding to instinct will tend to ignore the cold logic of law. It should be remembered that law is the embodiment of all wisdom . Justice according to law is a principle as old as the hills. The Courts are to administer law as they find it, however, inconvenient it may be. 22) In view of the above discussion, the appeals fail and are, accordingly, dismissed. However, we gran ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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