P SHANMUGAM Vs. STATE BANK OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AS the common question of law and facts are involved in all these writ petitions and the relief sought for also one and the same, common order is being passed.

(2.) THERE are four writ petitions filed by four petitioners seeking a common relief for issuance of writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records of the second respondent in CDO/PPG/GM/675 dated 24.9.2002 to issue a direction to the respondents herein to sanction and disburse to the petitioner pensionary benefits consequent on his retirement on the basis of State Bank of India's Voluntary Retirement Scheme dated 31.03.2001 with 18% interest p.a.

(3.) AT this juncture, the learned counsel for the petitioners placed the following three submissions: In order to get the benefit of pension in terms of the State Bank of India's Employees Pension Fund Rules, when the respondent issued circular dated 02.01.2001 inviting the employees to go on V.R.S. stating that a person who is put in 15 years of service or completed 40 years of age as on 31.12.2000 is entitled to get the benefits mentioned in the Circular, all the petitioners applied for V.R.S. thinking that they are also entitled to get other benefits mentioned under paragraph 6 of the said circular. But after accepting the petitioners' applications, though the respondents have granted benefits like ex-gratia and other benefits mentioned under paragraph 6 of the circular, refused to grant the benefit of pension on the ground that the petitioners have not put in 20 years of service, since Rule 22(1) of the State Bank of India Employees Pension Fund Rules contemplates 20 years of service and 50 years of age. Aggrieved by the said order, the present writ petitions have been filed.