VISWANATHAN O. Vs. CHAIRMAN CUM MANAGING DIRECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is aggrieved by the denial of pension, on the ground that he did not complete 20 years of service.

(2.) The petitioner commenced his service in the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. on 20.05.1987. He retired from service on 01.04.2003, while working as Development Officer Gr.I availing voluntary retirement under Special Voluntary Retirement Package Scheme ('SVRS' for short). The petitioner submitted his application dated 28.2.2003 exercising his option for SVRS package as per clause 15(c)(i)(a) of General Insurance (Rationalisation of Pay Scales and Other Conditions of Service of Development Staff) Amendment Scheme, 2003 -Ext.P1. The Regional Manager of the respondents issued Ext.P2 letter on 1.4.2003 accepting his request for voluntary retirement and relieving him from service on 1.4.2003.

(3.) As per clause 15(C) of Ext.P1 scheme, a Development Officer can avail the benefit of the scheme by submitting application for SVRS package as per Annexure-1 appended thereto, within 60 days of the commencement of the amendment scheme 2003. Annexure 1 special voluntary retirement package provides for the eligibility for availing voluntary retirement, the benefits available for the officers who avail the benefit of the scheme, etc. Clause 2 provides that a Development Officer seeking SVRS shall be entitled to the lowest of the exgratia amount equivalent to 60 days' salary for each completed years of service or salary for the number of months of service remaining. Clause 3 provides for other benefits in addition to the ex-gratia amount as