EKEN RIBA Vs. STATE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. D. Panging, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. K. Ete, learned Advocate General in charge for the respondents No. 1 to 5 for the State of Arunachal Pradesh and Mr. R. Saikia, learned counsel for the respondent Arunachal Pradesh Information Commission.

(2.) The four petitioners herein namely, Shri Eken Riba, Shri Mathiem Linggi, Shri Abraham K. Techi and Smti. Nanom Jamoh were all appointed as a State Information Commissioner as per the notification No. AR-113/2011/103-183 dtd. 3/3/2014, of the Chief Secretary to the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

(3.) This writ petition was instituted in the year 2015, inter alia claiming that the petitioners having been appointed as State Information Commissioners would also be entitled to pensions upon retirement on attaining the age of superannuation. One of the arguments set forth by the petitioners is that, under the prevailing Rules the State Chief Information Commissioner is paid a pension upon retiring from service, and according to the petitioners, there being no reasonable classification between the State Chief Information Commissioner and that of the State Information Commissioners, therefore, to maintain parity under Article 14 of the Constitution of India, the State Information Commissioners should also be declared to be entitled to the pensi-onery benefits as entitled to the State Chief Information Commissioner. Although the writ petition was instituted in the year 2015, but during its pendency, in the meantime, the four petitioners had retired from the service in the year 2019.