UNION OF INDIA Vs. RADHARANJAN PATTANAIK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN these appeals, the appellant seeks the setting aside of the common order of the Learned Single Judge passed on 13 th May, 2013 ("impugned order") in WP(C)/8032/2009 and WP(C)/8090/2009. The respondent employees in these appeals (the successful Writ Petitioners), had sought entitlement to pension as was available to other employees of the Visva -Bharati University ("respondent University") who had completed ten years of continuous service. The respondent University, on the basis of a memo issued by the appellant on 30th August, 2007, had stopped pension by its letter/order dated 20th December, 2008 ("impugned letter") to the AERC staff of the University. The Learned Single Judge, having examined the facts of the case, had quashed the said notification and directed the appellants to make necessary budgetary allocations to ensure that the respondent University gets the finances for payment of pensionary benefits to the petitioners. Likewise, the respondent University was directed to release the pensionary benefits within three months of the order. Feeling aggrieved by the aforesaid directions, the appellants have preferred the aforesaid appeals.

(2.) THE facts are that the Agro Economic Research Centre ("AERC") were established in 1954 under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and, over the years, spawned into fifteen such centres in different states. The objectives of the AERCs were:

(3.) THE Learned Single Judge further held that: