SECRETARY MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS DEPARTMENT OF PENSION AND PENSIONERS WELFARE GOVT OF INDIA Vs. R RAMA MURTHY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The issue that arises for consideration in the Writ Petition is "what is the mode of calculation of restoration of pension in respect of the employees covered by Rule 37-A of C.C.S. Pension Rules, 1972 (for brevity Pension Rules).

(2.) The practical implementation of the Rule is the moot question in this case. The respondent-employee was not an applicant before the tribunal. He filed an application before the Central Administrative Tribunal in O.A.NO.1345 of 2001 challenging the Order issued by the Accountant General, Orissa, dated:9.5.2000 fixing the quantum of pension restored after a period of 15 years under the Pension Rules. It was his case that he was appointed as U.D.C. in the Office of Accountant General, Orissa in Puri Branch and he was subsequently promoted as Accounts Officer on 7.4.1964. He was sent on deputation to Computer Maintenance Corporation after his name was selected by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. In the said Corporation he was appointed as Accounts Manager in Hyderabad division and subsequently the applicant was permanently absorbed from 1.6.1979. Thus, he served the Central Government from 27.11.1950 to 31.5.1979. His case is that all the Central Government employees, who were deputed to the Government Corporations or Government Autonomous Bodies and subsequently absorbed permanently, the period of service in the Central Government i.e.prior to absorption was treated as voluntary retirement and such employees became eligible for pension in accordance with the Pension Rules on par with the Central Government employees including the restoration of pension after 15 years.

(3.) The question that arises as to what is the amount of pension to which he is entitled in respect of the service rendered in the Central Government in accordance with rules. It is not in dispute thai the period worked in the Central Government would qualify him to earn full pension and not prorata pension. Under Rule 5(1) of C.C.S. Computation Rules, 1981 (hereinafter called Computation Rules), the Central Government employee is entitled to commute not more than 1/3rd of the pension eligible to be drawn by him. However, separate provisions, are made with regard to regulation of pension in respect of absorbees like the petitioner. In this regard, Rule 37 and 37-A of the Pension Rules are relevant which are extracted below: