48. The Supreme Court in case of V. Sukumaran (supra) has held that
the pension is succour for post-retirement period. It is not a bounty payable
at will, but a social welfare measure as a post-retirement entitlement to
maintain the dignity of the employee. It is further held that the pensionary
provisions must be given a liberal construction as a social welfare measure.
This does not imply that something can be given contrary to Rules, but the
very basis for grant of such pension must be kept in mind i.e. to facilitate a
retired government employee to live with dignity in his winter of life and,
thus, such benefit should not be unreasonably denied to an employee, more
so on technicalities. In our view the genuine claim of the petitioner for
compensation pension for the services rendered for more than 30 years is
rejected purely on technical ground so as to deprive the petitioner of her
legitimate claim which is not a bounty payable on the sweet will of the
employer. The petitioner having satisfied the criteria for claiming the
pension is entitled to receive such pension as a matter of right which cannot
bdp
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wp-691.21.doc
be deprived of by the State Government.
20. Emphasizingly, the Hon'ble Supreme has held that
pensionary provisions must be given liberal construction more
so as a social welfare measure. It is not a bounty to be
dispersed contrary to the rules, but very basis for grant of such
pension is to facilitate a retired government employee, live
with dignity, in the winter of his life. This fundamental
principle must be kept in mind while taking action, depriving
benefits which ought not to be done, unreasonably, more so,
on technicalities. [V. Sukumaran v. State of Kerala, (2020) 8
SCC 106; State of W.B. v. Haresh C. Banerjee and others,
(2006) 7 SCC 651]
39. Emphasizingly, the Hon'ble Supreme has held that
Patna High Court CWJC No.6852 of 2021 dt.11-05-2022
17/38
pensionary provisions must be given liberal construction
more so as a social welfare measure. It is not a bounty to be
dispersed contrary to the rules, but very basis for grant of
such pension is to facilitate a retired government employee,
live with dignity, in the winter of his life. This fundamental
principle must be kept in mind while taking action, depriving
benefits which ought not to be done, unreasonably, more so,
on technicalities. [V. Sukumaran v. State of Kerala, (2020) 8
SCC 106; State of W.B. v. Haresh C. Banerjee and others,
(2006) 7 SCC 651]
Considering this situation,
this Court by an interim order passed in Preetam Singh’s case1
had directed that even if employees have taken benefit of the old
pension scheme by giving an undertaking, they will be entitled to
the benefit of the new pension scheme in terms of the notification
dated 19th May 2009. The learned counsel invited our attention to
the subsequent order dated 5th May 2015 passed by the State
Government by which the benefit of the new pension scheme was
denied to those who opted to join the employment of the Board on
or after 1st April 2005. His submission is that this direction is
discriminatory which creates two classes of pensioners without
any rational basis. He relied upon a decision of this Court in the
case of D.S. Nakara & Ors. v. Union of India 2 as well as another
decision in the case of V. Sukumaran v. State of Kerala & Anr. 3.
2 1983 (1) SCC 305
3 2020 (8) SCC 106
21
C.A.Nos.6622-6623 of 2022 etc.
He would, therefore, submit that reconsideration of the view
taken in Preetam Singh’s case1 is not at all warranted.
20. Emphasizingly, the Hon'ble Supreme has
held that pensionary provisions must be given liberal
construction more so as a social welfare measure. It is not
a bounty to be dispersed contrary to the rules, but very
basis for grant of such pension is to facilitate a retired
government employee, live with dignity, in the winter of
his life. This fundamental principle must be kept in mind
while taking action, depriving benefits which ought not to
be done, unreasonably, more so, on technicalities. [V.
Sukumaran v. State of Kerala, (2020) 8 SCC 106;
State of W.B. v. Haresh C. Banerjee and others,
(2006) 7 SCC 651]
7. Emphasizingly, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has
held that pensionary provisions must be given liberal
construction more so as a social welfare measure. It is not a
bounty to be dispersed contrary to the rules, but very basis
for grant of such pension is to facilitate a retired government
employee, live with dignity, in the winter of his life. This
fundamental principle must be kept in mind while taking
action, depriving benefits which ought not to be done,
unreasonably, more so, on technicalities. [V. Sukumaran v.
State of Kerala, (2020) 8 SCC 106; State of W.B. v. Haresh
C. Banerjee and others, (2006) 7 SCC 651]