Supreme Court of India
Prabhavati Devi vs Union Of India And Others on 16 November, 1995
Equivalent citations: 1996 AIR 752, 1996 SCC (7) 27, AIR 1996 SUPREME COURT 752, 1996 AIR SCW 61, 1996 LAB. I. C. 762, (1996) 72 FACLR 87, 1996 BLJR 1 15, (1996) 2 SCT 210, (1996) 1 UPLBEC 40, (1996) 1 ANDHWR 43, (1996) 32 ATC 515, (1996) 1 LAB LN 28, 1996 (7) SCC 27, (1996) MADLW(CRI) 26, (1996) 1 LABLJ 890, 1996 SCC (L&S) 369, (1996) 1 SERVLR 28
Author: M.M. Punchhi
Bench: M.M. Punchhi
PETITIONER: PRABHAVATI DEVI Vs. RESPONDENT: UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS DATE OF JUDGMENT16/11/1995 BENCH: PUNCHHI, M.M. BENCH: PUNCHHI, M.M. MANOHAR SUJATA V. (J) CITATION: 1996 AIR 752 1996 SCC (7) 27 1995 SCALE (6)553 ACT: HEADNOTE: JUDGMENT:
O R D E R Leave granted.
Heard learned counsel for the parties.
The appellant herein is the window of Late Bipin Kumar Rai who was a temporary Railway servant in this manner : He, initially, was taken in the Railway Establishment as a casual worker; and w.e.f. 27.4.83 he acquired the status of a `substitute'. According to the definition given in Rule 2315 of the terms and conditions applicable to `substitute' in temporary service, they are persons engaged in the Indian Railway Establishments on regular scales of pay and allowances applicable to posts against which they are employed. These posts may fall vacant on account of a railway servant being on leave or due to non-avilability of permanent or temporary railway servants and which cannot be kept vacant.
The deceased kept working as a `substitute' till 5.1.87 when he died. But, before his demise, he came to acquire certain rights and privileges under Rule 2318 of the Rules applicable to Railway Establishments. The said rule provides that substitutes shall be afforded all the rights and privileges as may be admissible to temporary railway servants, from time to time, on completion of 6 months' continuous service. Indubitably, the deceased had worked beyond 6 months and that too continuously. Having become a temporary servant in this manner, he became entitled to family pension under sub-rule 3(b) of Rule 2311; whereunder it is provided that the widow/minor children of a temporary Railway servant, who dies while in service after a service of not less than 1 year continuous (qualifying) service shall be eligible for a family pension under the provisions of para 801 of the Manual of Railway Pension Rules. Further, in their case the amount of death gratuity admissible will be reduced by an amount equal to the employee's 2 months' pay on which the death gratuity is determined. The Railways have paid to the appellant gratuity under this sub-rule, but have denied to her the family pension. Her claim before the C A T, Patna Bench, Patna, was dismissed which has culminated into this appeal.
On the acquisition of temporary status derived in the manner stated above, it is difficult to sustain the orders of the Tribunal and to deny family pension to the widow and children of the deceased. See in this connection for support L Robert D'Souza Vs. Ex. Engineer, Southern Railway and Anr. (1982 1 SCC 645 and U.O.I. and Ors Vs. Basant Lal and Ors. (JT 1992 (2) SC 459). We have put the proposition to the learned counsel appearing for the Railways but he is unable to support the orders of the Tribunal; overlooking as it does the chain in consequence, making the deceased acquire a temporary status and on his demise his widow and children acquiring the right to claim family pension.
We, thus, allow this appeal; set aside the impugned orders of the Tribunal and allow the claim to family pension as projected by the appellant. We also direct the railway to work out the pension due within 2 months from today and deliver the pension as also the arrears to the appellant within 15 days thereafter, if not earlier and also pay interest at the rate of 12% per annum from the date it was due till payment.
The appellant shall get her costs throughout.