N. MANOHARAN Vs. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) The point for consideration in the subject Civil Appeals is whether the employees of Heavy Water Plant, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, Tuticorin ("HWP") are covered by the provisions of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 ("PG Act").

(3.) The Civil Appeals arise from a common Judgment dtd. 21/6/2023 in Writ Appeal No. 1687 of 2021, Writ Petition No. 19117 and batch. The impugned Judgment held and declared that the employees of HWP are not covered by the definition of Sec. 2(e) of the PG Act. Hence, the Civil Appeals are at the instance of the retired employees of HWP. The circumstances leading to the dispute between the parties are admitted and fall within a narrow compass.