C D SAMPATH Vs. STATE BANK OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ petition and the connected writ petitions are disposed of by this common order, since common questions of law and facts are involved. We are treating W. P. No. 18272 of 2001 as the leading case. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties in all these petitions and have perused the record.

(2.) THE prayer in W. P. No. 18272 of 2001 is for a writ of certiorari to quash the impugned order dated 29. 03. 2001 passed by the 2nd respondent State Bank of India represented by its General Manager (Dand PB), Chennai, and to permit the petitioner therein to retire under the SBI-VRS Scheme as MMGS-II, and to restore all the terminal and other benefits as envisaged in the scheme by directing the 2nd respondent to pay the retirement benefits to the petitioner as per the said scheme.

(3.) THE State Bank of India came out with a Voluntary Retirement Scheme for its staff known as the SBI VRS Scheme. Through its circular dated 02. 01. 2001 the bank enumerated the conditions for applying for voluntary retirement. The Scheme was opened on 15. 01. 2001 and the last date for opting for VRS was fixed as 31. 01. 2001. The petitioner alleged that he applied for voluntary retirement under the said Scheme through proper channel well before the last date.