KISHORE KUMAR Vs. PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK CIRCLE OFFICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner through instant petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India is seeking direction to respondent- Bank to sanction and grant pension to the petitioner in terms of Punjab National Bank (Employees) Pension Regulations, 1995 (for short '1995 Regulations').

(2.) The petitioner on 22/9/1983 joined respondent-Bank. The petitioner came to be implicated in an enquiry and he was awarded punishment of removal from service. The petitioner assailed order of removal before Central Government Industrial Tribunal cum Labour Court which vide order dtd. 11/4/2011 set aside punishment of removal from service. The respondent unsuccessfully assailed order of Labour Court before higher courts including Supreme Court. The petitioner came to be reinstated vide order dtd. 17/12/2012. The petitioner was asked to liquidate all outstanding dues before his retirement which was due on 30/4/2023. On the asking of petitioner, the respondent- Bank informed the petitioner that he would not get pension because he has not opted for the same. The petitioner submitted representation dtd. 28/4/2023 seeking permission to file option so that he may be granted pension. The petitioner retired on 30/4/2023 on attaining the age of superannuation.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner had filed option of pension before his termination, however, at this moment, he is not having copy of the option and he could not get information in this regard from the respondent-Bank.