PARAMJEET SINGH Vs. STATE OF H. P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As common issues of law and fact are involved in all these petitions, the same are being disposed by a common judgment.

(2.) Petitioner(S) before this Court are employees of the Government of Himachal Pradesh, who superannuated from service on or after 15.05.2003. The Finance Pension Department of the Government of Himachal Pradesh, vide Office Memorandum dated 18.09.2017, on the subject "Extension of benefits of 'Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity' to the Himachal Pradesh Government employees covered by New Defined Contributory Pension Scheme (known as NPS), issued instructions to the effect that employees of Government of Himachal Pradesh, who joined service in government departments on regular basis on or after 15.03.2003, are covered by the non-defined Contributory Pension Scheme, notified by the State Government, vide Notification No. Fin (Pen) A (3)-1/96, dated 17.08.2006 readwith Notification No.Fin (Pen) A (3) 1/96 dated 15.5.2003. However, this Office Memorandum was to take effect from the date of publication in the 'Rajpatra'. The grievance of the petitioners is that as they stood retired before the publication of the said Office Memorandum in the 'Rajpatra', the benefit of this Office Memorandum has not been granted to them. It is in this background that they approached this Court inter alia praying for the reliefs that the respondents be directed to pay gratuity to the petitioners also.

(3.) During the pendency of these petitions, the Finance Pension Department of the Government of Himachal Pradesh has issued another Office Memorandum dated 08.01.2021, which reads as under:-