LIC OF INDIA AND ORS Vs. KRISHNA MURARI LAL ASTHANA AND ANR ETC.
Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956
Section 17 - Constitution of Tribunal
Section 21 - Corporation to be guided By the Centrol Government
Supreme Court of India (Division Bench (DB)- Two Judge)
Appeal (Civil), 8959-8962 of 2013, Judgment Date: Mar 31, 2016
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 8959-8962 OF 2013
LIC of India and Others ...Appellant(s)
Versus
Krishna Murari Lal Asthana and ...Respondent(s)
Another Etc.
WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 6995 OF 2013
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 9223 OF 2013
CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 9409-9410 OF 2013
J U D G M E N T
Dipak Misra, J.
Pension though, by the judicial pronouncements, has been treated as not
a bounty yet the controversy relating to the said claim and denial thereof
has been a matter of frequent cavil between the employer and the employee
in numerous situations. And that is why this Court has been required to
deal with and render judgments pertaining to pension and interpretation of
the rules or policies or schemes relating thereto.
2. The present set of appeals fresco a picture which is not a happy one.
It appears that the appellant, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (for
short' 'the Corporation') at one point of time was enthusiastic to confer
certain benefits on the respondent-employees, may be without appreciating
the legal nuances but its action irrefragably instilled a concrete hope in
thousands of employees.
3. The Corporation is controlled by the Life Insurance Corporation Act,
1956 (for brevity, 'the Act'). Section 21 of the Act which provides that
the Corporation to be guided by the directions of the Central Government
reads as follows:-
“21. Corporation to be guided by the directions of Central
Government. - In the discharge of its functions under this Act, the
Corporation shall be guided by such directions in matters of policy
involving public interest as the Central Government may give to it in
writing; and if any question arises whether a direction relates to a
matter of policy involving public interest, the decision of the
Central Government thereon shall be final.”
4. Section 48 of the Act which is pertinent for the present purpose
empowers the authorities to make rules. Section 48 (1) and (3) to which
our attention has been invited read as follows:-
“48. Power to make rules.- (1) The Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette make rules to carry out the
purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the
following matters, namely:-
(a) the term of office and the conditions of service of members;
(aa) the instruments which may be issued and the amount of working
capital under sub-section (2) of section 5;
(b) the manner in which the moneys and other assets belonging to any
such fund as is referred to in Section 8 shall be apportioned between
the trustees of the fund and the Corporation;
(c) the services which the chief agent should have rendered for the
purpose of the proviso to section 12;
(cc) the terms and conditions of service of the employees of the
Corporation, including those who became employees of the Corporation
on the appointed day under this Act;
(d) the jurisdiction of the Tribunals constituted under section 17;
(e) the manner in which, and the persons to whom, any compensation
under this Act may be paid;
(f) the time within which any matter which may be referred to a
Tribunal for decision under this Act may be so referred;
(g) the manner in which and the conditions subject to which
investments may be made by the Corporation;
(h) the manner in which an Employees and Agents Relations Committee
may be constituted for each zonal office;
(i) the form in which the report giving an account of the activities
of the Corporation shall be prepared;
(j) the conditions subject to which the Corporation may appoint
employees;
(k) the fees payable under this Act and the manner in which they are
to be collected;
(l) any other matter which has to be or may be prescribed.
2(A)(B)(C)
xxx xxx xxx xxx
(3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall
be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of
Parliament while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days
which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive
sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both
Houses agree in making any modification in the rule shall thereafter
have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case
may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be
without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under
that rule.”
5. In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 48 of the Act, the
Central Government has framed a set of rules, namely, Life Insurance
Corporation of India (Employees) Pension Rules, 1995 (for short, 'the 1995
Rules’). Rule 37 of the 1995 Rules refers to “dearness relief”, which is
extracted herein below:-
“Dearness Relief – (1) Dearness relief shall be granted on basic
pension or family pension or invalid pension or on compassionate
allowance in accordance with the rates specified in appendix IV.
(2) Dearness relief shall be allowed on full basic pension even
after commutation.”
6. Appendix IV of the 1995 Rules, which is the principal plinth of
quarrel, is as follows:-
“Dearness relief on basic pension shall be as under: (1) In the
case of employees who retired on or after the 1st day of January,
1986, but before the 1st day of November, 1993, dearness relief shall
be payable for every rise or be recoverable for every fall, as that
case may be of every 4 points over 600 points in the quarterly average
of the All India Average Consumer Price Index, for Industrial Workers
in the series 1960 = 100. Such increase or decrease in dearness
relief for every said four points shall be calculated in the manner
given below:
|Scale of basic |The rate of dearness relief |
|pension per month |as a percentage of basic |
|(1) |pension |
| |(2) |
|(i) upto Rs.1250/- |0.67 per cent |
|(ii) Rs.1251/- to |0.67 per cent of Rs.1250 plus|
|Rs.2,000/- |0.55 per cent of basic |
| |pension in excess of |
| |Rs.1250/- |
|(iii) Rs.2001/- to |0.67 per cent of Rs.1250/- |
|Rs.2130/- |plus 0.55 per cent of the |
| |difference between Rs.2000/- |
| |and Rs.1250/- plus 0.33 per |
| |cent of basic pension in |
| |excess of Rs.2000/- |
|(iv) aboveRs.2130/-|0.67 per cent of Rs.1250/- |
| |plus 0.55 per cent of the |
| |difference between Rs.2000/- |
| |and Rs.1250/- plus 0.33 per |
| |cent of the difference |
| |between Rs.2130/- and |
| |Rs.2000/- plus 0.17 per cent |
| |of basic pension in excess of|
| |Rs.2130/- |
(2) In the case of employees who retire on or after the 1st day of
November, 1993, dearness relief shall be payable for every rise or be
recoverable for every fall, as the case may be, of every 4 points over
1148 points in the quarterly average of the All India Average Consumer
Price Index for Industrial Workers in the series 1960 – 100. Such
increase or decrease in dearness relief for every said four points
shall be calculated in the manner given below:
|Scale of basic |The rate of dearness relief |
|pension per month |as a percentage of basic |
|(1) |pension |
| |(2) |
|(i) upto Rs.2400/- |0.35 per cent |
|(ii) Rs.2401 to |0.35 per cent of Rs.2,400/- |
|Rs.3850/- |plus 0.29 per cent of basic |
| |pension in excess of |
| |Rs.2,400/- |
|(iii) Rs.3,851 to |0.35 per cent of Rs.2,400/- |
|Rs.4,100/- |plus 0.29 per cent of the |
| |difference between Rs.3,850 |
| |and Rs.2,400/- plus 0.17 per |
| |cent of basic pension in |
| |excess of Rs.3,850/- |
|(iv) above |0.35 per cent of Rs.2,400/- |
|Rs.4,100/- |plus 0.29 per cent of the |
| |difference between Rs.3,850 |
| |and Rs.2,400/- plus 0.17 per |
| |cent of the difference |
| |between Rs.4,100/- and |
| |Rs.3,850/- plus 0.09 per cent|
| |of basic pension in excess of|
| |Rs.4,100/- |
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in Para (1) and Para (2), in
respect of employees belonging to Class-III and Class-IV, who have
retired on or after the 1st day of August, 1992 and in respect of
Officers belonging to Class-I and Class-II, retired on or after 1st
day of April, 1993, dearness relief shall be payable or be recoverable
as may be determined from time to time.
@3(A) In case of employees who have retired or died on or
after the 1st day of August 1997, the dearness relief shall be payable
for every rise or to be recoverable for every fall, as the case may
be, of every 4 points over 1740 points in he quarterly Average
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers in the series of 1960 –
100 Such increase or decrease in dearness relief for every said 4
points shall be at the rate of 0.23 per cent of the Basic Pension;
@3(B) In case of any wage revision in future the rate of dearness
relief payable to an employee shall be determined by the Corporation
corresponding to the index to which the case is linked.
(The Corporation has determined that in case of employees who
have retired or died on or after the 1st day of August 2002, the
dearness relief shall be payable for every rise or to be recoverable
for every fall, as the case may be, of every 4 poins over 2328 points
in the quarterly Average Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers
in the series of 1960 – 100 Such increase or decrease in dearness
relief for every said 4 points shall be at the rate of 0.18 per cent
of the Basic Pension).
(4) Dearness relief shall be payable for the half year commencing
from the 1st day of February and ending with 31st day of July on the
quarterly average of the index figures published for the months of
October, November and December of the previous year and for the half
year commencing from the 1st day of August and ending with the 31st
day of January on the quarterly average of the index figures published
for the months of April, May and June of the same year.
(5) In the case of family pension, invalid pension and compassionate
allowance, dearness relief shall be payable in accordance with the
rates mentioned above.
(6) Dearness relief will be allowed on full basic pension even after
commutation.
(7) Dearness relief is not payable on additional pension.”
Be it stated, para 3A to the Appendix IV was incorporated on 22nd
June, 2000, and was published in the Official Gazette.
7. As the afore-quoted appendix would show, the Corporation has divided
its employees for the purpose of dearness relief into three categories
regard being had to the date of retirement. When situation remained thus,
certain representations were submitted to the Corporation. The said
representations were considered and Minutes were drawn up by the
authorities of the Board.
8. Mr. Nidhesh Gupta, learned senior counsel appearing for the
respondents in Civil Appeal Nos.8959-8962 of 2013, would impress upon this
Court that the Minutes are absolutely material to understand the
controversy and, accordingly, he has laid immense stress on them. For the
sake of completeness, we think it apposite to reproduce the relevant part
of the said Minutes. It is as follows:-
“An index linked Pension Scheme in lieu of Corporation's Contribution
to Provident Fund (CCPF) was introduced in the Corporation vide Central
Government Notification dated 28.06.1995. The Scheme provides for
payment of pensionary benefits with effect from 01.11.1993. The
employees of the Corporation, who retired between 01.11.1986 to
31.10.1993, are also covered under the scheme for pensionary benefits.
2. At the time of notification of the Pension Rules, the scales of
pay and allowances of the employees of the Corporation were linked to
All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) 800 points. After the
notification of the Pension Rules, the pay scales and allowances of the
employees of the Corporation have been revised on two occasions – first
in the year 1996 by linking it to AICPI 1148 Points and again in the
year 2000 by linking it to AICPI 1740 Points. The revision in the year
1996 was made effective retrospectively from 01.08.1992 and the
revision in the year 2000 was made effective retrospectively from
01.08.1997. Consequent upon the revision of pay scales, the Pension
Rules were suitably amended to give effect to payment of pension
commutation value and family pension as per the revised scales of pay
and allowances. However, the Dearness Relief on pension is being paid
to different generations of pensioners (depending upon their date of
retirement) on a graded structure upto 31.07.1997 as per the rates
given in Appendix-IV of the Pension Rules governing the rates of
Dearness Relief is given in Annexure-I to this note.
3. It may be observed from the rates of Dearness Relief as given in
Annexure-I, that there are three different rates prescribed for
different groups of pensioners depending upon their date of retirement.
Due to the different rates of Dearness Relief to different groups of
pensioners, the real value of pension, which is being eroded over a
period of time is not being protected besides causing administrative
inconvenience. It has thus become necessary to rationalize the
Dearness Relief structure and provide a suitable updation formula to
upgrade the basic pension to the employees of the Corporation who have
retired prior to 01.08.1997. It may be mentioned that such a provision
to upgrade the pension due to periodic revision in case of Central
Government employees is incorporated in the Central Civil Services
(Pension) Rules, on the basis of which the LIC of India (Employees)
Pension Rules have been drafted.
4. In view what has been stated in Para 3 above, it is suggested
that the following updation formula to upgrade the basic pension/family
pension in respect of employees who have retired between 01.01.1986 to
31.07.1997 may be adopted.
a. The basic pension/family pension payable in relation to AICPI
600 points or 1148 points, as the case may be, shall be upgraded by
merging the Dearness Relief payable upto AICPI 1740 points, and
b. On the pension so upgraded, Dearness Relief of 0.23% of basic
pension shall be paid or become recoverable for every 4 point rise or
fall of AICPI from 1740 points.
It is suggested that the above amendment shall be made from the date of
its notification in the official gazette and no arrears on account of
Pension/FamilyPension/Commutation Value or Dearness Relief shall be
payable. The one time financial implication of the above proposal has
been actuarially determined to be Rs.51.37 Crore.”
9. On the basis of the said Minutes, a resolution was passed by the
Board on 24th November, 2001. As the entire case hinges and rests on the
resolution, it is extracted below:-
“Amendment to LIC of India (Employees) Pension Rules, 1955 – UPGRADING
OF Basic Pension to AICPI 1740 Points and 100% DA neutralization
thereon in respect of Retirees prior to 01.08.1997:
Executive Director (Personnel), introducing the subject mentioned that
there were three different rates for different groups pensioners at
present depending upon their dates of retirement, which causes
considerable administrative inconvenience. Chairman pointed out that
he has since received a communication for Dr. S. Ram Khanna, Board
Member, which refers to his meeting with the Retirees Federation and
requests for examining the proposals as per Board Note in line with
the demands made by the Federation viz. Giving effect to the proposals
by 01.11.1993 and upgradation by giving weightage of 11.25% as in the
case of in service employees. Chairman pointed out that these have
been considered before placing the matter to the Board and it was felt
that the same would increase the financial burden very substantially
and may be unaffordable for the Corporation. Chairman pointed out
that the implications of the proposal made have been actually
determined at Rs.51.37 crore and the annual outlay would be in the
region of 5 to 6 crore. After some discussion, the Board approved the
proposal and suggested that it should be implemented prospectively
after obtaining Government approval.”
10. After the resolution was passed, the Executive Director of the
Corporation wrote to the Joint Secretary (Insurance & Banking) on 31st
December, 2001, seeking amendment to the 1995 Rules. Nothing has been
brought on record by the Corporation as to what ensued on the said
communication. Be that as it may. The respondents being grieved by the non-
execution of the resolution passed by the Corporation, preferred two writ
petitions being S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.6676 of 1998 and S.B. Civil
Writ Petition No.654 of 2007 before the High Court of Rajasthan at Jaipur.
11. The learned Single Judge, after hearing the learned counsel for the
parties though as a matter of fact came to hold that no approval had been
given by the Union of India, and the matter was pending before the Union of
India; yet taking into consideration the concession given by the learned
counsel for the Union of India, directed as follows:-
“The Respondent Corporation is directed to take a decision for
implementation of the resolution dated 24.11.2001 passed by the Board.
The respondent Corporation cannot provide different criteria for
grant of dearness allowance to the existing pensioners based on cut-
off date i.e. 31.7.1997. The benefit arising out of the directions
above would, however, be considered by the respondent Corporation so
that every retired employee may get the same benefit. Costs made
easy.”
12. The Corporation being grieved by the decision of the learned Single
Judge preferred two intra-court appeals D.B. Civil Special Appeal (W)
Nos.493 and 494 of 2010. The Division Bench posed the question whether the
resolution passed by the Corporation required approval of the Central
Government, referred to Section 21 of the Act, reproduced a paragraph from
the order of the learned Single Judge and came to hold as follows:-
“The learned counsel for LIC Mr. Mahendra Singh contended, taking us
through the provisions of the Act and the Rules under Section 48 and
49, that the rules with regard to the conditions of service of the
employees could only be framed by the Central Government and could be
implemented only after being notified in the official gazette.
We are of the view that whatever grievance with regard to the
implementation of the Board's resolution dated 24.11.2001 is
concerned, the same can be raised by the Union of India who has chosen
not to file any appeal in the matter and this can easily be considered
as an approval of the said resolution of the Board dated 24.11.2001
which was allegedly pending for nine years. The Board of LIC, who is
the appellant before us against the judgment of the learned Single
Judge, had itself taken a decision to remove the disparities and the
discrimination with regard to the payment of Dearness Allowance and
pension to the retired employees under its resolution of the Board
dt.24.11.2001, which was in public interest. It could not and should
not have filed the present appeal against the judgment of the learned
Single Judge as the learned Single Judge has provided an umbrella to
the appellant for the implementation of the decision of the Board
dt.24.11.2001 on the categorical statement made by the learned counsel
appearing on behalf of the Union of India and not assailed in appeal
by the Union of India.”
13. It is submitted by Mr. Neeraj Kishan Kaul, learned Additional
Solicitor General appearing for the appellant-Corporation that, the learned
Single Judge as well as the Division Bench, has committed illegality in
deciding an issue of law on the basis of concession given by the learned
counsel for the Union of India, for a concession by counsel on a question
of law, does not bind the Corporation and, in any case, it cannot form the
foundation of a decision. (See Union of India v. Hira Lal[1], B.S. Bajwa v.
State of Punjab[2], Vimaleshwar Nagappa Shet v. Noor Ahmed Shariff[3],
State of Rajasthan v. Surendra Mohnot[4].)
14. The thrust of the matter is whether the approval of the Union of
India is necessary. Mr. Gupta, learned senior counsel appearing for the
respondents has drawn our attention to Rule 55 of the 1995 Rules, which
reads as under:-
“55. Power to issue instructions – The Chairman of the Corporation
may from time to time issue instructions as may be considered
necessary or expedient for the implementation of these rules.”
Relying on the same, it is urged by Mr. Gupta that with regard to pay
revision, the Chairman of the Corporation has been issuing circulars from
time to time and the same is being followed by the Corporation and hence,
the interpretation placed on Sections 21 and 48 of the Act by the
Corporation is absolutely uncalled for and totally unjustifiable.
15. On scanning of anatomy of Rule 55 of the 1995 Rules, we are
absolutely clear that it does not confer power on the Chairman of the
Corporation to issue any instructions that can travel beyond the rules. In
terms of Rule 55, he has been authorized to issue instructions which are
necessary and expedient for the implementation of the rules. The Board had
passed the resolution. The Board can pass a resolution and the Chairman
can be the head of the Board, but it does not authorize the Board to take a
decision with regard to certain matters which are within the domain of the
rule making authority. On a perusal of Section 48, it is clear as crystal
that conferment of benefit, either pension or anything ancillary thereto
has to be conferred by the rules and the rule as prescribed under Section
48 of the Act is to be tabled before the Parliament. In the absence of a
rule, in our considered opinion, no benefit can be granted on the basis of
the resolution passed by the Corporation. This being the legal position,
the High Court could not have held to the contrary on the basis of the
concession given by the counsel for the Union of India.
16. Having stated so, in all possibility, we would have proceeded to
record the conclusion but, a significant one, the controversy of this
nature does not see the sunset with such immediacy.
17. Mr. Shree Ram Panchu, learned senior counsel appearing for the
respondents in Civil Appeal No.9223 of 2013, has submitted that certain
petitioners had preferred writ petition No.184 of 2007 in the High Court of
Delhi, assailing the constitutional validity of Para 3A of the Appendix to
the Rules contending, inter alia, that the said Para is violative of
Article 14 of the Constitution in view of the decisions rendered by this
court in D.S. Nakara v. Union of India and others[5], All India Reserve
Bank retired Officers Association v. Union of India[6] and V. Kasturi v.
Managing Director, State Bank of India and another[7], but the High Court
has not adverted to the said facets and disposed of the writ petitions,
placing reliance on the decision rendered by the High Court of Rajasthan.
We are of the considered opinion that when the issue of constitutional
validity of Para 3A to the Appendix was raised, the same deserved to be
addressed by the High Court.
18. Mr. Gupta, learned senior counsel appearing for the respondents,
endeavoured hard to impress upon us to deal with the same, but as we find
certain facts are to be adverted to and the pleadings are not adequate, we
think it seemly to restrain from the same.
19. At this juncture, we may usefully note another facet of the
submission advanced by Mr. Gupta. The learned senior counsel would urge
that there are certain employees who have retired after the cut-off date
stipulated in Para 3A of the Appendix, but they are not being given the
requisite dearness relief based on subsequent pay revisions. To bolster
his submission, he has placed reliance on Union of India and Another v. SPS
Vains (Retd.) and others[8], K.J.S. Buttar v. Union of India and
another[9] and V. Kasturi (supra). Mr. Gupta would submit that there is a
distinction between challenge to the constitutional validity of a provision
and the interpretation of the provision and its applicability. For the
aforesaid purpose, he has referred to us paragraph 16 of the SPS Vains
(Retd.) and others (supra), which reads as under:-
“The case of the respondents, however, was that in view of the
Constitution Bench decision of this Court in D.S. Nakara v. Union of
India, the fixation of a cut-off date as a result of which equals were
treated as unequals, was wholly arbitrary and had been rightly
interfered with by the High Court. One of the questions posed in the
aforesaid decision was whether a class of pensioners could be divided
for the purpose of entitlement and payment of pension into those who
retired by a certain date and those who retired thereafter. The
question was answered by the Constitution Bench holding that such
division being both arbitrary and unprincipled the classification did
not stand the test of Article 14.”
20. Pyramiding the submission further in that direction, he has also laid
emphasis on paragraphs 8 to 10 and 26 to 28 and 31 of K.J.S. Buttar
(supra).
21. It is urged by Mr. Gupta that once the employees are covered under
Para 3A, being retirees after the cut-off date, the benefit cannot remain
static but has to change with the pay revisions regard being had to the
price index, for otherwise the provision does not spring to life and,
eventually, paves the path of arbitrariness. He has heavily relied on
paragraphs 34, 35 and 39 of Kallakkurichi Taluk Retired Officials
Association, Tamil Nadu and others v. State of Tamil Nadu[10] apart from
other paragraphs. We may hasten to add that we have referred to this
aspect in extenso as Mr. Gupta would submit that non-conferment of the
benefit of the dearness relief keeping in view the subsequent pay revisions
of the similarly situated employees leads to disastrous effect and in a way
allows room for absurdity. Learned senior counsel has given an example to
highlight as to how the absurd situation can creep in. It is urged by him
that if an Executive Director stood retired sometime in 1997, he would get
approximately Rs.7,000/- towards pension, whereas a person working in
Class III, if he retires subsequently would get approximately double of the
said amount.
22. We have already stated that the High Court of Delhi has really not
adverted to as regards the constitutional validity of Para 3A of the
Appendix. As far as the other delineations or deliberations are concerned,
the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh has also not independently
dealt with the controversy, but followed the decision rendered by the
Rajasthan High Court. We have already adverted to the reasoning of the
High Court of Rajasthan inasmuch as it has referred to the scheme of the
Act, recorded the concession of the counsel for the Union of India and
proceeded to apply the inherent principle enshrined in Article 14 of the
Constitution, though constitutional validity was not challenged. Be it
stated, there are two categories of employees, namely, the employees who
have retired prior to the cut-off date i.e. 1st August, 1997, as a
consequence of which they are not getting the benefit of dearness relief,
and the employees who have retired after the said date but are not extended
the benefit of dearness relief despite subsequent pay revisions. Needless
to say, the quantum of pension is affected.
23. Regard being had to the piquant situation, we are inclined to set
aside the orders passed by the High Courts of Rajasthan, Delhi and Punjab &
Haryana at Chandigarh and transfer the writ petitions from the High Courts
of Rajasthan and Punjab & Haryana to the High Court of Delhi, which will
decide the constitutional validity of Para 3A of the Appendix to the Rules,
as argued by Mr. Panchu, learned senior counsel appearing for the
respondents, and also deal with the cases of the persons, who have retired
after the cut-off date, consider the contentions raised by Mr. Gupta,
learned senior counsel and the other contentions to be raised. However, we
may clarify that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the
case, except that the resolution could not become operative unless it was
conferred the status of a rule as provided under Section 48 of the Act.
24. We had indicated at an earlier stage that though the controversy
relating to pension should be put to an end to in quite promptitude, yet
for some reason or other, it does not so happen. When the present batch of
appeals were argued, this Court on 7th May, 2015, as an interim measure,
had directed as follows:-
“As an ad-interim measure, it is directed that the petitioner-
Corporation shall release 20% of the amount as per the impugned
judgments pertaining to the High Court, in favour of the respondent-
employees within six weeks hence, subject to final result in the
appeals. If any amount, that has been deposited before the High Court
pursuant to the order passed by this Court, 20% of the same shall be
released in favour of the Life Insurance Corporation of India, so that
it can pay to the concerned employees. In case, where the amount has
not been deposited, needless to emphasize, the Corporation shall pay
and question of any kind of withdrawal from court does not arise.
Needless to say, the payment in continuum shall be considered when the
appeals are taken up for hearing.”
25. A grievance has been raised by the learned counsel for the
respondents that the Corporation has really not paid the twenty percent of
the amount. The same is seriously refuted by learned Additional Solicitor
General on the count that they have deposited the amount as per Para 3A of
the Appendix, but not given the benefit of pay revisions, as claimed by the
certain respondents-employees.
26. We have been appraised at the Bar that the respondents had harboured
hope when the resolution was passed. Their hope, as the learned counsel for
the respondents would submit, was not unfounded, inasmuch as the revisions
in pension were earlier made by issue of certain circulars issued by the
Chairman in exercise of power conferred under Rule 55 of the 1995 Rules.
Whether the hope was reasonable or not need not be commented upon, but the
fact remains that certain respondents are septuagenarians and they have to
fight another round of litigation in the High Court. We feel the pain
while remanding the matter, but we have no option as the pleadings are not
adequate as it should have been while assailing a constitutional validity
of a provision. It is well settled in law that he who assails the
constitutional validity of a statutory provision or a rule, has to
specially assert the grounds for such challenge. [See State of Uttar
Pradesh v. Kartar Singh[11], State of Andhra Pradesh and another v. K.
Jayaraman and others[12], Union of India v. E.I.D. Parry (India) Ltd.[13],
State of Haryana v. State of Punjab & another[14]]. The purpose of saying
all this is as the learned counsel for the respondents would agonizingly
contend that the amount of pension the respondents are getting is a paltry
sum and it is difficult to sustain in the present day. That apart, the
Corporation should have been gracious enough to recognize the services
rendered by them and the Union of India should have come with an
affirmative response when the resolution was passed by the Corporation. We
have already adjudicated the said facet, but as we are remanding the matter
to the High Court on a different count. In such a situation, we are of the
convinced opinion that the respondents should get certain amount as an
interim measure. We had already directed by the order dated 7th May, 2015
that the Corporation shall pay 20% amount to the individual employees. Mr.
Kaul, learned Additional Solicitor General would submit that the
Corporation has already deposited the entire amount without the pay
revision before the High Courts of Rajasthan and Punjab & Haryana at
Chandigarh are concerned regard being had to the order of this Court. As
far as the High Court of Delhi is concerned, employees have been paid 20%,
as directed by this Court. The said fact is disputed by learned counsel
for the respondents after obtaining instructions. The said aspect shall
not detain us, for what we are going to direct in praesenti.
27. Keeping in view the totality of facts and circumstances of the case, it
is hereby directed that the Corporation shall pay 40% as per Para 3A of the
Appendix to each of the employees within six weeks and shall file an
affidavit before the High Court of Delhi to the said effect. The
Corporation is at liberty to withdraw the amount deposited in the Courts so
that it can pay the employees who have retired. Needless to emphasize, the
aforesaid payment shall be subject to final results in the writ petitions.
28. It is a case where we are constrained to speak that the end does not
bring the finality. We say so as Mr. Kaul, learned Additional Solicitor
General would contend that the parties to the litigation shall only get the
benefit and not the similarly placed persons in view of the interim order
passed by this Court on 07.05.2015. It does not require Solomon's wisdom
to state that an interim order is an interim order and does not have any
impact at the time of final verdict especially in such a situation and,
therefore, we direct that it shall be applicable to the similarly placed
persons.
29. As we are transferring the cases to Delhi High Court, the Registry of
the High Courts of Punjab & Haryana and Rajasthan shall send the papers to
the High Court of Delhi within three weeks hence. The learned Chief
Justice of the High Court of Delhi is requested to constitute a Bench
within four weeks from today. We grant liberty to the writ petitioners to
file requisite amendments, if so advised. Counter affidavit to the same
shall be filed by the contesting parties within three weeks from the date
of filing the amendments. The High Court is requested to dispose of the
writ petitions by the end of August, 2016. We ingeminate that we have not
expressed any opinion with regard to any of the aspects of the matter,
except what we have finally concluded, namely, that the resolution could
not have been given effect to without framing a rule by the Central
Government. Till the matter is decided by the High Court of Delhi, no other
High Court shall proceed with the similar matters, as it is desirable that
a singular judgment is passed so that the validity of the same can be
adjudged.
30. The appeals are disposed of accordingly. There shall be no order as
to costs.
.....................J.
(Dipak Misra)
......................J.
(R. Banumathi)
New Delhi;
March 31, 2016.
-----------------------
[1] (1996) 10 SCC 574
[2] (1998) 2 SCC 523
[3] (2011) 12 SCC 658
[4] (2014) 14 SCC 77
[5] AIR 1983 SC 130 = (1983) 1 SCC 305
[6] (1992) Suppl 1 SCC 664
[7] (1998) 8 SCC 30
[8] (2008) 9 SCC 125
[9] (2011) 11 SCC 429
[10] (2013) 2 SCC 772
[11] AIR 1964 SC 1135
[12] (1974) 2 SCC 738
[13] (2000) 2 SCC 223
[14] (2004) 12 SCC 673
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