Railway challenged a CAT order on pension fixation of ex-casual labourers granted temporary status and later regularised. The court held temporary service counts from its commencement towards pension under Rule 3(23), which excludes only casual labour, and rejected the writ petition affirming the CAT order.
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.20469 of 2019
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Versus
Date : 19-02-2024
Patna High Court CWJC No.20469 of 2019 dt.19-02-2024 2/3
On 16.02.2024, matter was heard at length and
following order was passed:-
"Railway Servants are governed by Rules called "The Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993". Definition of railway servant under sub-rule 23 of Rule 3 reads as under:-
"(23) "railway servant" means a person who is a member of a railway service or holds a post under the administrative control of the Railway Board and includes a person who is holding the post of Chairman, Financial Commissioner or a Member of the Railway Board but does not include casual labour or person lent from a service or post which is not under the administrative control of the Railway Board to a service or post which is under such administrative control;"
2. Reading of the aforementioned provision, it is crystal clear that such of those casual labourers are not entitled or covered by aforementioned Rules, 1993. In the present case, respondents were initially appointed as casual labourer, thereafter, they have been granted temporary status on a particular date and further their services have been regularized. Therefore, for fixation of pension what would be the relevant date in respect of respondents are concerned, it is to be noted that all the respondents had a temporary status with a particular date. Therefore, from that date pension is required to be calculated.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner is hereby directed to apprise further, if any, to the extent that respondents are not entitled to count temporary services till date of regularization towards fixation of pension. If such material is not placed on record, we will dispose of this matter based on the aforementioned provision of law.
Patna High Court CWJC No.20469 of 2019 dt.19-02-2024 3/3
4. Re-list this matter on 19.02.2024.”
2. Today, learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that in the Railway Manual, the definition of Railway Servant is different. It is to be noted that subject matter is relating to counting of temporary service towards grant of pension under the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993 sub-rule 23 of Rule 3 has been quoted in our earlier order. What has been excluded is only casual labourer. Therefore, temporary service rendered by Railway Servant is entitled to count services rendered from the date of temporary services followed by regularisation, if any, and till the date of retirement.
3. In view of these facts and circumstances, the petitioner has not made out a case so as to interfere with the CAT order dated 07.09.2016 passed in O.A. No. 050/00650/2016. Hence, CWJC No. 20469 of 2019 stands rejected while affirming CAT decision cited (supra)
(P. B. Bajanthri, J)
( Alok Kumar Pandey, J)
abhishekkr/-
AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 22.02.2024 Transmission Date NA
2 issues framed by the court
Whether temporary service rendered before regularisation counts towards fixation of pension under the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993.
Whether the CAT order directing counting of temporary service should be interfered with.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
The Union of India through the General Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur
Mohan Prasad
Yogendra
Ram Babu
Suresh Mahto
Chandrika
P. B. Bajanthri
Alok Kumar Pandey
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
