Allowed

Dr.Bhabani Shankar Sahoo v. State of Odisha

Orissa HC10 May 2022WPC(OAC)/562/2015

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court of Odisha disposed of a petition challenging the cancellation of GPF accounts for employees regularized before the 2005 pension reform. Relying on Supreme Court precedents, the Court quashed the impugned orders and directed the continuation of the petitioner in the GPF scheme from the date of regularization under the OCS Pension Rules 1992.

What did the court decide?

Set aside orders cancelling GPF account; direct respondents to maintain petitioner's GPF subscription from date of regularization under OCS Pension Rules 1992.

Dr.Bhabani Shankar Sahoo Vs State of Odisha — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Orissa HC (2022)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

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W.P.(C)(OAC) No.562 of 2015

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Dr. Bhabani Shankar Sahoo

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Petitioner

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-versus-

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State of Odisha & Ors.

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…. Opposite Parties

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CORAM: JUSTICE BIRAJA PRASANNA SATAPATHY

ORDER

10.05.2022

Order No

01. 1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid Mode.

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2. Heard Mr. S.K. Nayak, learned counsel for the Petitioner, Mr. Balabantaray, learned standing counsel for the StateOpp. Parties and Mr. S.K. Patra, leaned counsel appearing for O.P. No.5.

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3. Originally, the case was filed in the Tribunal in Original Application No.562 of 2015. On being transferred to this Court, the same has been registered as W.P.C.(OAC) No.562 of 2015. The petition involves the following prayer:

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“In view of the facts and submissions mentioned in para- (6) above the applicant prays for the following relief(s):

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This Hon’ble Tribunal may graciously be pleased -

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(i) To quash the letter of the Respondent No.4, dtd.12.01.2015 to Respondent No.3 on all the applicant for cancelling of GPF

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accounts number of the applicant be quashed;

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(ii) The Hon’ble Tribunal may direct the respondents specifically Respondent No.4 to allow the applicant for the benefit of OCS Pension Rules 1992 on GPF(O) Rules, there under as they joined in service before implementation of OCS Pension amendment Rules, 2005;

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(iii) To allow the applicant to deposit in their GPF account by deducting their salary asbefore;

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(iv) To pass any other order(s) as the Hon’ble Tribunal may deem fit and proper;

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4. Background involving the case is that the applicant being a BAMS holder was selected in a duly constituted selection committee and accordingly appointed as Ayurvedic Medical Officer on contractual basis. While the petitioner was continuing as such, by office order dated 10.09.2012 of the Government in H & FW Department, the service of the petitioner was regularized and by the time of filing of the Original Application, the petitioner was continuing as a regular employee. While the petitioner was continuing as a contractual Ayurvedic Medical Officer, State Government issued a notification dated 17.09.2005 introducing a new restructured defined contribution pension scheme for the new entrants in the State Government service with effect from 01.01.2005. While matter stood above, there arose some doubt in the matter of implementation of such circular, clarification appears to have been issued to all Departments of the Government

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vide intimation dated 04.04.2007 indicating therein that the cases of employees would be governed in terms of OCS Pension Rule, 1992 and existing GPF(O) Rules. It is after such clarification is issued, the Director Health Services, Odisha vide letter dated 20.09.2011 issued instruction to all Chief District Medical Officers of the State directing therein for deduction of G.P.F. deduction of the staff under their control and those who were appointed on contractual basis prior to 01.01.2005 and brought over on regular basis after 01.01.2005. It is pursuant to such developments, petitioner was provided with G.P.F. number and the petitioner was continued to be a G.P.F. subscriber. It is while the matter stood thus, the opposite party no.5 issued a letter dated 13.01.2015 thereby cancelling the G.P.F. Account number in respect of the employees, who are continuing on contractual basis prior to 01.01.2005. Petitioner being aggrieved by such direction of the opposite party No. 5, preferred the Original Application involved herein. On entertaining the Original Application, it appears by interim order the Tribunal stayed the operation of the instruction vide Annexure-4 so far as the applicant is concerned.

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5. Mr. Nayak, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner on reiteration of the factual background indicated hereinabove giving reference to the documents appended here to further taking support of the judgment of the Tribunal in Original Application No.98 of 2015 disposed of on 19.5.2017 confirmed by this Court in the case of State of Odisha & Others Vs. Sanjulata Sethy & Others in disposal of W.P.(C).No.22057 of 2019 and further being affirmed by Hon’ble Apex Court, attempted to justify the

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claim involved herein. Mr. Nayak, learned counsel further also submitted that in another development involving a judgment in similar situation being carried up to Hon’ble Apex Court, the Hon’ble Apex Court in disposal of a batch of SLPs including Special Leave Petition (C).No.23578 of 2012 and dismissal of the State’s plea vide batch of review cases including Review Petition (C) No. 2038 of 2013. Mr. Nayak further taking support of this judgment also to the case at hand, claimed above judgment also taken care of in the disposal of Original Application No.98 of 2015.

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6. Learned Standing Counsel appearing for the State taking this Court to the reason assigned in the counter affidavit in justification of the impugned order however did not dispute the position of law involving very same issue not only decided by the Tribunal in the above Original Application but also decided through the decision in Special Leave Petition (C).No.23578 of 2012 and Review Petition (C) No. 2038 of 2013.

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7. Since the claim made here based on settled position of law, without entering into the factual aspect, this Court simply observes the Finance Department orders herein also impugned in the Original Application No.98 of 2015. The Tribunal after taking all the factual aspects involved herein and further taking into the developments through the above SLP(C) and the Review settling the position in disposal of Original Application No.98 of 2015, has come to hold the orders at Annexure-4 also being impugned herein were set aside. For there is no dispute with regard to the position of law on this aspect and as has already been settled through the above judgment, this Court sets aside the orders at

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Annexure-4 and allows the application directing to maintain the position of the petitioner so far it relates to continuance in the G.P.F. Scheme from the date of his regularization.

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8. The writ petition succeeds.

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Issue urgent certified copy as per rules.

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(Biraja Prasanna Satapathy) Judge

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Sneha

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Dr.Bhabani Shankar Sahoo v. State of Odisha

Case brief

What is this about?

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Dr.Bhabani Shankar Sahoo v. State of Odisha

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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