PRADEEP CHHABRA Vs. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner impugns a circular bearing No.2003/HR/46 dated 23.7.2003 inasmuch as it denies the benefit of medical facilities to employees resigning from the services of the respondent corporation after the said cut off date.

(2.) PRIOR to the impugned circular any person who had resigned from services with the consent of the respondent corporation, after attaining the age of 50 years and after rendering minimum 20 years service, was eligible for joining a contributory scheme floated by the respondent corporation for providing medical attendance to the employees and their family. By the impugned circular dated 23.7.2003, the Scheme for providing "Post Retirement Medical Attendance Facility" to officers (hereafter 'the scheme') was amended and all employees who resigned from services after the cut off date 23.7.2003 were ineligible for medical attendance facility under the scheme.

(3.) THE learned counsel submits that the cut off date has no nexus with the object of the policy and thereby is liable to be quashed. In effect, the petitioner seeks an affirmative direction that the medical facilities available to the eligible employees, who have resigned prior to 23.07.2003 be also extended to all employees who have tendered their resignation after23.07.2003.