Supreme Court of India
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD AND ORS.versusC.R. RANGADHAMAIAH AND ORS. ETC. ETC.
- Citation
- 1997 INSC 573
- Decided
- 25 July 1997
- Disposal
- Dismissed
- Bench
- S VERMA
Holding
The Court held that the retrospective amendment of Rule 2544 reducing the running‑allowance limit violated Articles 14 and 16 by impairing vested pension rights and was therefore unconstitutional.
Summary
The case concerned railway employees who retired between 1 January 1973 and 4 December 1988 and whose pension was to be calculated under Rule 2544 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code, which then allowed a running allowance of up to 75% of other emoluments. The Railway Board later issued notifications on 5 December 1988 reducing this ceiling to 45% (for 1973‑1979) and 55% (post‑1979) with retrospective effect. The employees challenged the notifications, arguing that they violated their vested right to pension and contravened Articles 14, 16, 19(1)(f) and 31(1) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court examined whether rules made under the proviso to Article 309 could be applied retrospectively to affect already‑retired persons and whether such retrospective operation infringed fundamental rights. It held that the amendments were arbitrary, discriminatory and violative of Articles 14 and 16 because they impaired accrued pension rights, and therefore the notifications were unconstitutional. Consequently, the appeals filed by the Union of India and the Railway Administration were dismissed.
Issues considered
- The validity of the 1988 notifications amending Rule 2544 with retrospective effect under Article 309 of the Constitution.
- Whether the retrospective reduction of the running‑allowance ceiling infringes Articles 14, 16, 19(1)(f) and 31(1) of the Constitution.
- Whether the retired employees possessed vested or accrued rights to pension computed according to the rule in force at the time of their retirement.
- Whether the 1976 orders were executive instructions or statutory rules and their impact on the later notifications.
- Whether the power to amend service rules can be exercised retrospectively to affect benefits of persons no longer in service.
Legislation cited
- Central Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985
- Constitution of Indias. Article 14, s. Article 16, s. Article 19(1)(f), s. Article 309, s. Article 31(1)
Subjects
service lawpensionretrospective rulevested rightsArticle 14Article 16Article 309Indian Railway Establishment Codeconstitutional challengerailway employees
Judgment
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD AND ORS. A
v.
- C.R. RANGADHAMAIAH AND ORS. ETC. ETC.
JULY 25, 1997
[J.S. VERMA, C.J., M.M. PUNCHHI, S.C. AGRAWAL, B
DR. AS. ANAND AND S.P. BHARUCHA, JJ.]
Service Law:
India11 Railway Establishmellf Code-Rule 2544--Computatio11 of pen- c
sion-Railway Employees retired betwee11 1. 1. 73 and 5.12.88-Notifications
amended Rule reducing percentage limit of nm11i11g allowance while calculat-
ing average emolume11ts-Retrospective operatio1t-Adversely affecti11g
employees who stood retired ther1-Held, not pe1111issible-E11titled to pensio11
on the basis of rules prevalant at the time of retirement.
D
Rule 157-Notifications and orders reducing pe11sion of previously
:::.. retired employees-Whether Executive Instructio11s or Statutory Rules-Held,
not a pure question of law, cannot be decided in absence of relevant
f acts-Notificatio11 proceeds on the basis that previous orders were Executive
Instructions-Se1vice Rules goveming future rights-Held, challe11ge not per- E
missible on ground of retrospectivity or violation of A11icles 14 & 16 of
Constitution-Rules reversing benefits given, from an ante1ior dat~eld,
assailable as violative of A11icles 14 & 16 of the Constitutio11 to the extent of
", retrospectivity.
Appointment-Nature, i11 case of Government employee-Held, F
govemed by statutory mies a11d not contract--,..[Jnilateral alteration in service
co11ditions by employer pennissible.
Constitution of India :
G
Articles 19(1) (f) & 31(1)-Retrospective reduction in pe11sion by
P- notificatio1t-Articles 19(1) (f) & 31(1) were not in existence (as suspended)
on date of 11otification but existed when it came into effect retrospective-
ly-Held, violative of Articles 19(1), 31(1), 14 & 16.
Words and Phrases-''Acciued Right" and "Vested Right"-Meaning of H
63
64 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A The respondents were employees of the Railway Administration who
had retired after 1.1.73 but before 5.1.88. Their pension was to be computed
in accordance with Rule 2544 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code,
which at that time prescribed that the running allowance be limited to a
maximum of 75% of the other emoluments taken into account while cal-
B culating average emoluments.
The pay scales of railway employees were revised w.e.f. 1.1.73 under
the Railway Services (Revised Pay) Rules 1973, but the Railway Board had
intimated through a letter that the existing percentage limit of running
allowance would continue to remain the same, although it was under
C revision. This was later on reduced to 45% retrospectively, w.e.f. 1.4.76 by
letters dated 22.4.76 and 23.6.76, which were quashed by the Tribunal and
the said judgment was never challenged.
Later on, the impugned notifications dated 5.12.88 reduced the max-
imum limit of 75% to 45% retrospectively from the period between 1.1.73
D to 31.3.79 and to 55% from the period, 1.4.79 onwards. These notifications
were challenged before the CAT and the same were quashed. The Full
Bench of the Tribunal again affirmed this judgment in order to put at rest
various conflicting views and decisions of its various benches on similar
issues ..
E
Aggrieved the appellants appealed to this Court contending that the
previous orders were not in the nature of executive instructions, but were
statutory rules made by the Railway Board; that the relationship between
the Government and its servants is not like an ordi~ary contract of service,
but is something in nature of status and, therefore, the employee bas no
F vested right in regard to the terms of service; that the rules made in
exercise of power under Article 309 of the Constitution of India have the
same effect as that of a legislative act and.can operate prospectively as well
as retrospectively; and that the impugned amendments cannot be regarded
as arbitrary, as due to the reduction in the percentage there bas been no
G reduction in the total amount of pension payable.
Dismissing the appeal, the Court
HELD: 1. The plea that the previous orders dated 22.3.76 and 23.6.76
were not in the nature of executive instructions, but were statutory rules
H has been raised for the first time in this Court. The question whether these
CHAIRMAN,RAILWAYBOARD v. C.R.RANGADHAMAIAH 65
•
orders were issued under exercise of power under Rule 157 of the Indian A
..... Railway Establishment Code, is not a pure question of law. It cannot be
-
-,
decided in the absence of relevant facts. Moreover the impugned notifica-
tion dated 5.12.88 proceeds on the basis that the previous orders were in
the nature of executive instructions. [76-G-H]
2. It is true that once a person joins service under the Government B
the relationship between him and the Government is in the nature of status
rather than contractual and the terms of his service while he is in employ-
ment are governed by statute or statutory rules, which may be unilaterally
altered without the consent of the employees. [78-C]
Roshan Lal Tandon v. Union of India, [1968] 1 SCR 185; State of
c
, Jammu & Kashmir v. Triloki Nath Khosa, [1974] 1 SCR 779 and B.S. Vadera
v. Union of India, [1968] 3 SCR 575, relied on.
3. The president, in exercise of his power under the proviso to Article
309 of the Constitution, can make rules which may have prospective or D
retrospective operation; the said rules may be open to challenge on the
ground of violation of the provisions of the Constitution, including the
Fundamental Rights contained .in Part III. (79-B]
B.S. Vadera v. Union of India, [1968] 3 SCR 575, referred to.
E
4. A rule which operates in futµro so as to govern future rights of
those already in service cannot be assailed on the ground ofretrospectively
as being violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, but a rule which
seeks to reverse from an anterior date a benefit which has been granted or
availed e.g., promotion or pay scale, can be assailed as being violative of
Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution to the extent it operates retrospec- F
tively. (80-A-B]
B.S. Yadav & Ors. etc. v. State of Haryana & Ors. Etc., [1981) 1 SCR
1024; State of Gujarat &Anr. v.Raman Lal Keshv Lal Soni & Ors., [1983] 2
SCR 287, followed.
G
.p Ex.Capt. KC Arora & Anr. v. State of Haryana & Ors, [1984] 3 SCR
623; T.R. Kapur & Ors. v. State of Haryana & Ors., [1987] 1 SCR 584; P.D.
Aggarwal & Ors. v. State of U.P. & Ors., [1987] 3 SCR 427; KR. Narayanan
& Ors. v. State of Karnataka & Ors., [1994]-Supp. 1 SCC 44; Union of India
& Ors. v. Tushar Ranjan Mohanty & Ors., [1994] 5 SCC 450 and K H
66 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A Ravindranath Pai & Anr. v. State of Kamataka and Anr., [1995) 2 SCC 246,
relied on.
5. The expressions "vested rights" or "accrued rights"have been used -.
in the context of a right flowing under the relevant rule which was sought
to be altered with effect from an anterior date and thereby taking away the
B benefits available under the rule in force at that time. Such an amendment
to the existing rule is arbitrary, discriminatory and violative of the rights
guaranteed under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. [81·D·F)
6. It is true that when the impugned notifications were issued, the
rights guaranteed under Articles 31 (1) and 19(1)(1) of the Constitution
c were not available since they stood omitted. But the notifications have been
made operative retrospectively, from dates on which these rights were
available. Therefore, they are violative of the rights then gnaranteed under
Articles 19(1) and 31(1) of the Constitution. They are also violative of the
rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution on the
D ground that they are unreasonable and arbitrary since the said amend·
ments have the effect of reducing the amount of pension that had becom~
payable to the retired employees. [84-C-F]
Deokinandan Prasad v. State of Bihar & Ors., [1971) Supp. SCR 634;
D.S. Nakara & Ors. v. Union of India, [1983).2 SCR 165; Indian Ex-Services
E League & Ors. Etc. v. Union of India and Ors. Etc., [1991) 1 SCR 158 and
Salabuddin Mohamed Yunus v. State of Andhra Pradesh, [1985) 1SCR930.
7, The respondents who had retired after 1.1.73 but before 5.12.88
were entitled to have their pension computed on the basis of Rule 2544 as
it stood on the date of their retirement. [85,C-D]
F
8. The Full Bench of the Tribunal has rightly taken the view that the
impugned notifications amending Rule 2544 are unreasonable and ar·
bitrary and are violative of the rights gnaranteed under Articles 14 and 16
of the Constitution. [85·G·H; 86-A)
G
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal Nos. 4174-82
of 1995 Etc. Etc. ·<s
From the Judgment and Order dated 16.12.93 of the Central Ad-
ministrative Tribunal, Bangalore in Original Application Nos. 395-403 of
H 1991.
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD v. C.R.RANGADHAMAIAH [S.C.AGRAWAL,J.) 67
K.N. Bhat, Additional Solicitor General, N.N. Goswami, M.N. Krish- A
namani, T.L.V. Iyer, AB. Rohtagi, A.S. Nambiar, A.K. Srivastava, S.
Wasim A. Qadri, Ms. Indra Sawhney, Ms. Kanu Priya Mittal, Ms. Anubha
Jain, K. C. Kaushik, Naresh Kumar, Rajiv Nanda, A.K. Sharma, C.V.S.
Rao, B.K. Prasad, Ms. Indu Goswami, Shail K. Diwivedi, G. Prakash, M.T.
George, Ms. Malini Poduval, Ms. Baby Krishnan, J.P. Goel, J.M. Khanna,
Ms. Shafali Khanna, K.V. Vishwanathan, K.V. Venkataraman, A. Mariar- B
putham, P.K. Manohar, S.R. Bhat, Ms. Kiran Bhardwaj, C.L. Sahu, B.V.
Deepak, Dilip Pillai, Mukul Mudgal, (D. Prakash Reddy) for Ms. D.
Bharathi Reddy, Shree Pal Singh, S. Srinivasan M.A. Chinnaswamy, R.C.
Gubrele, M.K.D. Namboodiri and Shakeel Ahmed Syed for the appearing
parties. c
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
S.C. AGRAWAL, J. These appeals and special leave petitions filed
by the Union of India and the Railway Administration involve the question
regarding validity of the notifications Nos. G.S.R. 1143(E) and G.S.R. 1144 D
(E) dated December 5, 1988 issued in exercise of the power conferred on
the President of India under the Proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution
whereby Rule 2544 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code, Volume II
(Fifth reprint) has been amended with retrospective effect. By notification
No. G.S.R. 1143 (E) the said rule was amended. with effect from January E
1, 1973 and by notification No. G.S.R. 1144(E) the amendment was made
with effect from April 1, 1979.
In Railways there are certain employees such as Drivers, Guards,
Shunters, etc, who are connected with the movement of trains and are
categorised as "running staff'. In addition to the pay the running staff F
entitled to payment of Running Allowance. Under the relevant rules com-
putation of pension after retirement is made on the basis of average
emoluments and a part of the Running Allowance is included in average
emoluments. Provision in this regard is contained in clause (g) of Rule 2544
of the Indian Railway Establishment Code. Prior to its amendment by the G
impugned notifications Rule 2544 provided as follows :
"Rule 2544 (C.S.R. 486) - Emoluments and Average Emoluments :
The term "Emoluments", used in these Rules, means the emolu-
ments which the Officer was receiving immed;ately before the
retirement and includes : H
68 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A (a) pay other than that drawn in tenure post;
(b) Personal allowance, which is granted (i) in lieu of loss of
substantive pay in respect of a permanent post other than a tenure
post, or (ii) with the specific sanction of the Government of India,
for any other personal consideration.
B
Note : Personal pay granted in lieu of loss of substantive pay in respect
of a permanent post other than a tenure post shall be treated as
personal allowance for the purpose of this article. Personal pay
granted on any other personal considerations shall not be treated as
personal allowance unless otherwise directed by the President.
c
(c) fees or commission if they are the authorised emoluments
of an appointment, and are in addition to pay. In this case
"Emoluments" means the average earnings for the last six months
of service;
D (d) acting allowance of an Officer without a substantive ap-
pointment if the acting service counts under Rule 2409 (c.s.r. 371),
and allowances drawn by an Officer appointed provisionally sub-
stantively or appointed substantively pro tempore or in an officiat-
ing capacity to an office which is substantively vacant and on which
no officer has a lien or to an Office temporarily vacant in conse-
E
quence of the absence of the permanent incumbent on leave
without allowances or on transfer to foreign service;
(e) deputation (duty) allowancf-s;
(f) duty allowances (special pay); and
F
(g) (i) For the purpose of calculation of average emoluments :
Actual amount of running allowances drawn by the Railway servant
during the month limited to a maximum of 75% of the other
emoluments reckoned in terms of (a) to (f) above.
G
(ii) For the purpose of gratuity and/or death-cum-retirement
gratuity : The monthly average of running allowance drawn during
the three hundred and sixty five days of running duty immediately
preceding the date of quitting service liirited to 75% of the
monthly average of the other emoluments reckoned in terms of
H items (a) to (f) above drawn during the same period.
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD v. C.RRANGADHAMAIAH (S.C.AGRAWAL,J.) 69
Note : In the case of an Officer with a substantive appointment A
who officiates in another appointment or holds a temporary ap-
pointment, "Emoluments" means :
(a} the emoluments which would be taken into account under
this Rule in respect of the appointment in which he officiates or
-· of the temporary appointments, as the case may be, or B
(b) the emoluments which would have been taken into account
under this Rule had he remained in this substantive appointment
whichever are more favourable to him."
On the basis of the recommendations of the Third Pay Commission
c
the pay scales of the staff in the railways were revised by the Railway
Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as 'the 1973
Rules') notified vide notification dated December 7, 1973 which came into
force on January 1, 1973. With regard to provisional pa)'ment of certain
allowances in conjunction with pay fixed under the 1973 Rules, the Railway D
Board by their letter dated January 21, 1974 intimated that the question of
revision of rules for regularisation of various allowances consequent upon
the introduction of the revised pay-scales under the 1973 Rules was under
the consideration of the Board and pending final decision thereon, the
Board had decided as under :
E
"(i) Treatment of Running' Allowance for various purposes in case
of Running Staff.
The existing quantum of Running allowance based on the
prevailing percentages laid down for various purposes with
reference to the pay of the Running Staff in Authorised Scales F
of pay may be allowed to continue_."
Through letter of the Railway Board dated March 22, 1976 it was
intimated:
G
-- "1. The question of revision of rules regarding treatment of Run-
ning Allowance as pay for certain purposes consequent upon the
introduction of revised pay scales under Railway Services (Revised
Pay) Rules, 1973 has been under Consideration of this Ministry.
It has now been decided that the existing rules in this respect may H
70 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A be modified as follows in the case of Running Staff drawing pay in revised
pay scales:
(i) Pay for the purpose of passes and PTOs shall be pay plus
40% of pay.
B (ii) Pay for the purpose of leave Salary, Medical attendance and
treatment, Educational Assistance and retirement benefits
shall be pay plus actual amount of running allowance drawn
subject to a maximum of 45% of pay.
(iii) Pay for purpose of fixation of pay in stationery posts, Com-
c pensatory (City) Allowances, House Rent Allowance and rent
for Railway quarters shall be pay plus 30% of pay.
2. These orders take effect from 1.4.1976.
3. The payments already allowed on provisional basis in terms of
D para 2 of Railway Ministry's letter No. PCIII/73 RA dated
21.1.1974 for the period from 1.1.1973 to 31.3.1976 shall be treated
as final.
4. The above has the sanction of the President."
E By letter of the Railway Board dated June 23, 1976 the direction
contained in the Jetter dated March 22, 1976 was modified and it was
intimated:
"2. In partial modification of the orders contained therein, the
Railway Ministry have decided, as a special case, that in the case
F
of Running Staff retiring between 1.1.1973 to 31.3.1976, pay for the
purposes of retirement benefits only shall be pay in revised scales
plus actual amount of running allowance drawn subject to a max-
imum of 45% of pay in revised pay scales.
G 3. The above has the sanction of the President."
-C
By letter of the Railway Board dated July 17, 1981 the decisions
taken on the recommendations of the Committee on Running Allowances
were communicated. In the said letter it was stated :
H "3.23. Reckoning of Running Allowance as Pay.
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD v. C.RRANGADHAMAIAH [S.C.AGRAWAL,J.] ·11
(i) For the specified purposes for which running allowance is A
reckoned as Pay at present, 30% of the basic pay of the running
staff concerned will be reckoned except as below :
(a) for the purpose of retirement benefits, 55% of basic pay will
- be taken into account. This provision will be made applicable
retrospectively from 1.4.1979 so that those running staff who have B
already retired with effect from that date of afterwards will also
have their retirement benefits recalculated and re-settled."
(ii) x x x x x x x x x x x x x "
A Writ Petition (Writ Petition No. 915 of 1978) titled Dev Dutt
c
Sharma & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., was filed in the Delhi High Court
by employees who had been working as railway guards. Some of them had
retired from service while some had filed the Writ Petition in a repre-
sentative capacity through the General Secretary of All India Guards
Council. In the said Writ Petition the petitioners challenged the validity of D
the order of the Railway Board as ·Contained in the letter dated March 22,
1976 whereby the quantum of percentage of the Running Allowance for
the purpose of retirement and other benefits was reduced from 75% as
prescribed in Rule 2544 to 45% with effect from January 1, 1973. After the
constitution of the Central Administrative Tribunal under the Administra-
tive Tribunals Act, 1985, the said Writ Petition was transferred to the E
Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (hereinafter
referred to as 'the Tribunal') and was registered as No. T-310of1985. The
said petition was allowed by the Tribunal by judgment dated August 6, 1986
and the order of the Railway Board dated March 22, 1976 was quashed on
the ground that under the Indian Railway Establishment Code which F
contains the statutory rules framed by the President under Article 309 of
the Constitution Running Allowance up to a maximum of 75%. of the pay
has to be taken into account for the purpose of calculating pecuniary
benefits and other entitlements and that the said right under the statutory
rules could not be taken away by order dated March 22, 1976 which was a
mere executive instruction and the fact that it was issued with the sanction G
and approval of the President did not give it a character of a statutory rule.
It was held that the said executive instruction cannot be accepted to be a
statutory amendment of the existing rules governing the Running Al-
lowance.
No steps were taken by the Railway Administration to challenge the H
72 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A correctness of the said judgment of the Tribunal and it has become final.
After the said decision of the Tribunal, the impugned notifications were
issued on December 5, 1988. Notification No. G.S.R. 1143 (E) is as
follows :
"G.S.R. 1143(E) : In exercise of the powers conferred by the
B proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution, the President is pleased
to amend Rule 2544 of Indian Railway Establishment Code,
Volume II (Fifth Reprint) as in the Annexure.
This amendment will be effective from 01.01.1973.
c ANNEXURE
RULE 2544
Sub:rule g(i) and g(ii) may be substituted by the following :
D
g(i) "For the purpose of calculation of average emoluments
actual amount of running allowance drawn by the railway
servant during the month limited to a maximum of 45% of
pay, in the revised Scales of Pay."
E g(ii) "For the purpose of gratuity and/or death-cum- retirement
gratuity: the monthly average of running allowances drawn
during the 365 days of running duty immediately preceding
the date of quitting service limited to 45% of average pay
drawn during the same period, in the revised scales of pays."
F Notification No. G.S.R. 1144(E) is as under :
"G.S.R. 1144(E) : In exercise of the powers conferred by the
proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution, the President is pleased
to amend Rule 2544 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code,
G Volume II (Fifth reprint) as in the Annexure.
The amendment will be effective from 01.04.1979.
ANNE XU RE
H RULE 2544
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD v. CRRANGADHAMAIAH [S.CAGRAWAL,J.] 73
Sub-rule g(i) and g(ii) may be substituted by the following : A
g(i) "For the purpose of calculation of average emolumentS : )5%
r .. of basic average pay, in the revised scales of pay, drawn during
the period; "
g(ii) "For the purpose of gratuity and/or death-cum-retirement B
gratuity: 55% of basic average pay, in the revised scales of
pay, drawn during the period."
At the time when these notifications were issued OA. No. K-269 of
1988 filed by K.S. Srinivasan and others was pending before the Ernakulam
Bench of the Tribunal. After the issuance of the said notifications the
c
petitioners in that matter amended the petition to assail the validity of the
said notifications in so far as they were given retrospective effect with effect
from January 1, 1973 and April 1, 1979 respectively. O.A. No. K-269 of
1988 was allowed by the Ernakulam Bench of the Tribunal by judgment
dated April 2, 1990 and the impugned notifications were quashed to the D
extent the amendments in Rule 2544 were given retrospective effect on the
view that the said amendments in the rule in so far as the same were given
retrospective effect were unjust, unreasonable and were violative of Article
14 of the Constitution. A review Application filed by the Union of India
against the said judgment of the Ernakulam Bench of the Tribunal was
E
dismissed by order dated July 25, 1990. Special Leave Petition No. 10373
of 1990 has been filed by the Union of India against the said judgment of
the Ernakulam Bench of the Tribunal.
It appears that the Principal Bench of the Tribunal by its judgment
dated October 23, 1991 in O.A. No. 1572 of 1988 filed by C.L. Malik and F
others, took a contrary view on the question of validity of the impugned
notifications and held that the vested rights of the employees were not
affected by the amendment of the rules on the ground that total amount
~ of pension and retirement benefits they would have received before the
amendment were not reduced by the amended Rule. It seems that the
earlier dicision of the Ernakulam Bench of the Tribunal in OA. No. K-269 G
,;-. of 1988 was not brought to the notice of the Bench which decided 0.A.
No. 1572 of 1988. The said decision of the Principal Bench of the tribunal
~
was followed by the Ahmedabad Bench of the Tribunal in judgment dated
February 28, 1992 in O.A. Nos. 351-423 of 1988. The Ahmedabad Bench
of the Tribunal also did not notice the earlier judgment of the Ernakulam H
74 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A Bench of the Tribunal. In view of the conflicting decisions of various
Benches of the Tribunal the matter was referred to the Full Bench of the
Tribunal. In its judgment dated December 16, 1993 in C.R. Rangadhamaiah
& Ors. v. Chainnan, Railway Board & Ors. and other connected matters, ·-""
the Full Bench, agreeing with the view of the Ernakulam Bench of the .
B Tribunal, has held :
(1) Under the Proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution, the
President has power to promulgate rules with retrospective effect.
This, however, is subject to the condition that the rules do not
offend any of the fundamental rights conferred by Part III of the
c Constitution.
· (2) Pension is a valuable right which a government servant earns.
It is neither charity nor bounty. Government servant acquires right
to pension and other retirement benefits on the date he retires
from service. Deprivation of such a valuable vested right after
D retirement is manifestly unreasonable, arbitrary and, therefore,
violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.
(3) By the revision of the pay scales the pay scales of the members
of the running staff were enhanced with effect from January 1,
1973. Under Rule 2544 the members of the running staff are
E entitled to computation of their pay and retirement benefits by
taking into account the Running Allowance which they have been
receiving subject to a maximum of 75% of the pay and other
allowances.
F (4) By notifications dated December 5, 1988, Rule 2544 was
amended prescribing the maximum at 45% from January 1, 1973
to April l, 1979 and 55% from April l, 1979 onwards. Those who
. retired from January 1, 1973 to December 4, 1988 were, in accord-
ance with Rule 2544, as it then stood, entitled to take into account
Running Allowance in the matter of computation of pension and
G retirement benefits upto the maximum of 75% of their pay and •
other allowances. As their pay was revised with effect from January
1, 1973 the limit of 75% had to be worked out with reference to
the enhanced pay and other allowances that they hecame entitled
to receive in accordance with the 1973 Rules which came into effect
H from January 1, 1973.
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD v. C.R.RANGADHAMAIAH (S.C.AGRAWAl..,J.) 75
(5) When the maximum was reduced from 75% to 45% upto April A
1, 1979 or at the rate of 55% from April 1, 1979, the vested rights
-.. of all those who retired between January 1, 1973 and December
4, 1988 in the matter of receiving pension and retirement benefits
were adversely affected.
B
(6) Persons who retired between January 1, 1973 and December
4, 1988 had earned a right to computation of pension in accordance
with the statutory rules then in force. As by the time they retired,
revision of pay had come into force, it is the revised pay and the
Running Allowance subject to a maximum of 75% of the revised
pay and allowances that was required to be taken into account.
c
(7) This right which accrued in their favour on their retirement
between January 1, 1973 and December 4, 1988 was sought to be
affected by amending the rules on December, 5, 1988 with
retrospective effect reducing the maximum limit of running al-
D
lowance that qualifies for pension,
(8) The Ernakulam Bench had rightly declared that the amended
provisions to the extent they have been given retrospective effect
as void a offending Article 14 of the constitution. E
On the basis of the said decision of the Full Bench of the Tribunal,
other Benches of the Tribunal at Bangalore, Hyderabad, Allahabad, Jabal-
pur, Jaipr, Madras and Ernakulam have passed orders giving relief on the
same grounds. These appeals and special leave petitions have been filed F
against the decision of the Full Bench and those other Benches of the
Tribunal. Some of these matters were placed before a Bench of three
learned Judges of the Court on March 28, 1995 on which date the following
order was passed.
G
-- "Two questions arise in the present case, viz., (i) what is the
concept of vested or accrued rights so far as the Government
servant is concerned and (ii) whether vested or accrued rights can
be taken away with retrospective effect by rules made under the
proviso to Article 309 or by an Act made under that Article, and
which of them and to what extent. H
76 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A We find that the Constitution Bench decisions in Roshan Lal
Tandon v. Union of India, [1968] 1 SCR 185, B.S. Vadera v. Union
of India, [1968) 3 SCR 5741 and State of Gujarat & Anr. v. Raman
Lal Keshav Lal Soni & Ors., [1983) 2 SCR 287 have been sought
to be explained by two three Judges Bench decision in Ex-Capt.
KC Arora & A/lT. v. State of Haryana & Ors., [1985] 3 SCR 6231
B and K Negaraj & Ors. v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Anr. & Ors.,
(1985] 1 SCC 5231 in addition to the two-Judges Bench decision
in P.D. Agg01Wal & Ors. v. State of U.P. & Ors, [1987] 3 SCC 6221
and K Naryana & Ors. Etc. v. State of Kamataka & Ors. Etc., (1993)
Supp. 1SCC441. Prima facie, these explanations go counter to the
c ratio of the said Constitution Bench decisions. It is not possible
for us sitting as three Judges Bench to resolve the said conflict. It
has, therefore, become necessary to refer the matter to a larger
Bench. We accordingly refer these appeals to a Bench of five
learned Judges."
This is how these matters have come up before this Bench.
Shri KN. Bhat, the learned Additional Solicitor General, has, in the
first place, urged that the orders dated March 22, 1976 and June 23, 1976.
were not in the r_ature of executive instructions, but were statutory rules
E made by the Railway Board in the exercise of its power under Rule 157 of
the Indian Railway Establishment Code and had the effect of amending
Rule 2544. This plea has been raised on behalf of the Union of India for
the first time in this Court. It was not put forward before the Tribunal in
No. T-310of1985 and the judgment of the Tribunal dated August 6, 1976
in the said case proceeds on the basis that the order dated March, 22,
F 1976 is in the nature of executive instructions and on that basis
the said order was struck down by the Tribunal for the reason that the
executive instructions could not amend or dilute statutory rules. The said
judgment of the Tribunal has become final. This plea was also not raised
before the Full Bench of the Tribunal. The question whether the Railway
G Board, while issuing the orders dated March 22, 1976 and June 23, 1976,
was exercising its power under Rule 157 of the Indian Railway Estab- -•:
lishment Code, is not a pure question of law. It cannot be decided in the
absence of relevant facts, Moreover, the impugned notifications d~ted
December 5, 1988, whereby Rule 2544 has been amended, proceed on the
basis that the orders dated March 22, 1976 and June 23, 1976 were in the
H nature of executive instructions. The following Explanation is appended
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD v. C.R.RANGADHAMAIAH [S.C.AGRAWAL,J.] 77
below notification G .S.R. 1143 (E) wherein it har been clearly stated : A
"Explanation :
The Rule 2544 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code,
Volume II (Fifth reprint) has been modified through administrative
instructions issued with the President's ·approval effective from B
1.1.73. These instructions wr.re necessitated by the introduction of
the revised Scales of pay recommended by the Third Central Pay
Commission. The purpose of this amendment is to give statutory
force to the administrative instructions with effect from the same
date on which the instructions were issued." (emphasis supplied)
c
Similar Explanation is appended below notification G.S.R. 1144 (E).
In view of the said statement in the Explanation appended below the
impugned notifications to the effect that Rule 2544 had earlier been
modified by administrative instructions and that the purpose of the amend-
ments is to give statutory force to the administrative instructions the D
contention urged by the learned Additional Solicitor General that the
orders dated March 22, 1976 and June 23, 1976 were statutory rules cannot
be entertained.
The question which, therefore, needs to be examined is whether the
amendments made in Rule 2544 by the impugned notifications, to the E
extent they have been given effect from January 1, 1973 and April 1, 1979,
can be treated as a valid exercise of the power to make rules under the
Proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution.
On the basis of the decision of the Constitution Bench in Roshan Lal
Tandon v. Union of India, [1968] 1 SCR 185, the learned Additional F
Solicitor General has submitted that the relationship between the Govern-
ment and its servants is not like an ordinary contract of service between a
master and servant, but is something in the nature of status. It is urged that
once appointed to a post or office, the government servant acquires a status
nd his right and obligations are no longer determined by consent of both G
parties, but by statute or statutory rules which may be framed and altered
--- unilaterally by Government and the government servant has no vested right
in regard to the terms of his service. The learned Additional Solicitor
General has further submitted that the rules made in exercise of the power
conferred on the President under the proviso to Article 309 of the Con-
stitution have the same effect as an act of the Legislature and that such H
78 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A rules can be made to operate prospectively as well as retrospectively. In
support of the said submission reliance has been placed on the decision of
the Constitution Bench in B.S. Vadera v. Union of India & Ors., (1968] 3
SCR 575. The submission is that since a government servant has no vested ·'
right in the terms and conditions of his service and the said terms can be
alter.ed with retrospective effect by the rules made under the Proviso to
B Article 309, the retrospective operation of a rule cannot be assailed on the
ground that it takes away a vested right of the government servant.
It is no doubt true that once a person joins service under the
Government the relationship between him and the Government is in the
nature of status rather than contractual and the terms of his service while
c he is in employment are governed by statute or statutory rules, which may
be unilaterally altered without the consent of the employees. It has been
so held by this Court in Roshan Lal Tandon (supra) and State of Jammu
& Kashmir v. Triloki Nath Khosa, (1974] 1 SCR at pp. 779, 780. It may,
however, be mentioned that in.Roshan Lal Tandon (supra) the petitioner
D was invoking his rights under the contract of service and the said conten-
tion was rejected by the Court with the observations :
"We are therefore of the opinion that the petitioner has no vested
contractual right in regard to the terms of his service and that the
counsel for the petitioner has been unable to make good his
E submission on this aspect of the case." (p. 196) (emphasis supplied)
In B.S. Vadera (supra) it has been held that the rules under the
proviso to Article 309 have effect subject to the provisions of the Act made
by the appropriate Legislature under the main part of Article 309, if the
appropriate Legislature has passed an Act under Article 309 and in the
F absence of any Act of the appropriate Legislature on the matter the rules
made under the proviso to Article 309 are to have full effect both prospec-
tively and retrospectively. Since the power of the appropriate legislature to
enact a law under Article 309 has to be exercised subject to the provisions
of the Constitution, the power to make rules under the Proviso to Article
G 309 has to be exercised subject to the provisions of the Constitution. The
Court has, therefore, said :
.......
"Apart from the limitations, pointed out above, there is none other,
imposed by the proviso to Article 309, regarding the ambit of the
operation of such rules. In other words, the rules, unless they can
H be impeached on grounds such as breach of Part III, or any other
CHAJR!v;,\N,RAILWAYBOARD v. C.R.RANGADHAMAIAH (S.C.AGRAWAL,J.] 79
constitutional provision, must be enforced, if made by the ap- A
propriate author'ty." (p. 585]
This means that even though the President in exercise of his power
under the Proviso to Article 309, can make rules which may have prospec-
tive or retrospective operation, the said rules may be open to challenge on
the ground of violation of the provisions of the Constitution, including the B
Fundamental Rights contained in Part III of the Constitution.
In Triloki Nath Khosa and Ors. (supra) rules had been framed
altering the criterion of eligibility for promotion from the post of Assistant
Engineer to the post of Executive Engineer and the same were challenged C
on the ground of retrospectivity by the Assistant Engineers who were in
service on the date of making of these rules: Rejecting the said contention,
this Court said :
"It is wrong to characterise the operation of a service rule as D
retrospective for the reason that it applies to existing employees.
A rule which classifies such employees for promotional purposes,
undoubtedly operates on those who entered service before the
framing of the rule but it operates in futuro, in the sense that it
governs the future right of promotion of those who are already in E
service. The judgment rules do not recall a promotion already
made or reduce a pay scale already granted. They provide for a
classification by prescribing a qualitative standard, the measure of
that standard being educational attainment. Whether a classifica-
tion founded on such a consideration suffers from a discriminatory
vice is another matter which we will presently consider but surely, F
the rule cannot first be assumed to be retrospective and then be
struck down for the reason that it violates the guarantee of equal
opportunity by extending its arms over the past. If rules governing
conditions of service cannot ever operate to the prejudice of those
who are already in service, the age of superannuation should have G
.....
remained immutable and schemes of compulsory retirement in
public interest ought to have foundered on the rock of retrospec-
tivity. But such is not the implication of service rules nor is it their
true description to say that because they affect existing employees
they are retrospective." (p. 779) H
80 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A It can, therefore, be said that a rule which operates in futuro so as
to govern future rights of those already in service cannot be assailed on the
ground of retrospectivity as being violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the . ~-
Constitution, but a rule which seeks to reverse from an anterior date a
benefit which has been granted or availed, e.g., promotion or pay scale, can
B be assailed as being violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution to
the extent it operates retrospectively.
In B.S. Yadav & Ors. Etc. v. State of Haryana & Ors. Etc., (1981] 1
SCR 1024, a Constitution Bench of this Court, while holding that the power
C exercised by the Governor under the Proviso to Article 309 partakes the
characteristics of the legislative, not executive, power and it is open to him
to give retrospective operation to the rules made under that provision, has
said that when the retrospective effect extends over a long period, the date
from which the rules are made to operate must be shown to bear, either
from the face of the rules or by extrinsic evidence, reasonable nexus with
D the provisions contained in the rules. (p. 1068)
In State of Gujarat & Anr. v. Raman Lal Keshav Lal Soni & Ors.,
[1983] 2 SCR 287, decided by a Constitution Bench of the Court, the
question was whether the status of ex- ministerial employees who had been
E allocated to the Panchayat service as Secretaries, Officers and Servants of
Gram and Nagar Panchayats under the Gujarat Panchayat Act, 1961 as
government servants could be extinguished by making retrospective
amendment of the said Act in 1978. Striking down the said amendment on
the ground that it offended Articles 311 and 14 of the Constitution, this
F Court said :
"The legislature is undoubtedly competent to legislate with
retrospective effect to take away or impair any vested right ac-
quired under existing laws but since the laws are made under a
written Constitution, and have to conform to the do's and don'ts
G of the Constitution neither prospective nor retrospective laws can
be made so as to contravene Fundamental Rights. The law must
....
satisfy the requirements of the Constitution today taking into
account the accrued or acquired rights of the parties today. The
law cannot say, twenty years ago the parties had no rights, there-
H fore, the requirements of the Constitution will be satisfied if the
CHAIRMAN,RAILWAYBOARD v. C.R.RANGADHAMAIAH [S.C.AGRAWAL,J.[ 81
law is dated back by twenty years. We are concerned with today's A
rights and not yesterday's. The legislature cannot legislate today
with reference to a situation that obtained t~enty years ago and
ignore the march of events and the constitutional rights accrued
in the course of the twenty years. That would be most arbitrary,_
unreasonable and a negation of history." (pp. 319-320)
B
The said decision in Raman Lal Keshav Lal Soni & Ors. (supra) of
the Constitution Bench of this Court has been followed by various Division
Benches of this Court. (See : Ex. Capt. KC. Arora & Anr. v. State of
Haryana & Ors., [1984] 3 SCR 623; T.R. Kapur & Ors. v. State of Haryana
& Ors., [1987] 1 SCR 584; P.D. Aggarwal & Ors. v. State of U.P. & Ors., C
[1978) 3 SCR 427; K.R. Narayanan & Ors. v. State of Kamataka & Ors.,
[1994) Supp. 1 SCC 44; Union of India & Ors. v. Tushar Ranjan Mohanty
& Ors., [1994] 5 SCC 450 and K. Ravindranath Pai & Anr. v. State of
Kamataka & Anr., [1995) Supp. 2 SCC 246.
D
In many of these decisions the expressions "vested rights" or "accrued
rights" have been used while striking down the impugned provisions which
had been given retrospective operation so as to have an adverse effect in
the matter of promotion, seniority, substantive appointment, etc. of the
employees. The said expressions have been used in the context of a right E
flowing under the relevant rule which was sought to be altered with effect
from an anterior date and thereby taking away the benefits available under
the rule in force at that time. It has been held that such an amendment
having retrospective operation which has the effect of taking away a benefit
already available to the employee under the existing rule is arbitrary,
discriminatory and violative of the rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and
F
16 of the Constitution. We are unable to hold that these decisions are not
in consonance with the decisions in Roshan Lal Tandon (supra), B.S. Yadav
(supra) and Raman Lal Keshav Lal Soni & Ors., (supra).
__... .. In these cases we are concerned with the pension payable to the G
employees after their retirement. The respondents were no longer in
service on the date of issuance of the impugned notifications. The
amendments in the rules are not restricted in their application in futuro.
The amendments apply to employees who had already retired and were no
longer in service on the date the impugned notifications were issued. H
82 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A In Deokinandan Prasad v. State of Bihar & Ors., [1971] Supp.) SCR
634, decided by a Constitution Bench it has been laid doW!l :
"Pension is not a bounty payable on the sweet will and pleasure of
the Government and that, on the other hand, the right to pension
is a valuable right vesting in a government servant." (p. 152) (em-
B phasis supplied)
In that case the right to receive pension was treated as property
under Articles 31(1) and 19(1)(f) of the Constitution.
C In D.S. Nakara & Ors. v. Union of India, [1983] 2 SCR 165, this
Court, after taking note of the decision in Deokinandan Prasad (supra),
has said:
"Pension to civil employees of the Government and the defence
personnel as administered in India appear to be a compensation
D for service rendered in the past. However, as held in Douge v.
Board of Education a pension is closely akin to wages in that it
consists ofpayment provided by an employer, is paid in consideration
of past service and serves the purpose of helping the recipient meet
the expenses of living."
"Thus the pension payable to a Government employee is earned
by rendering long and efficient service and therefore can be said
to be a deferred portion of the compensation or for service
rendered." (p. 185)
F It has also been laid down by this Court that the reckonable
emolument which are the basis for computation of pension are to be taken
on the basis of emoluments payable at the time of retirement. (See : Indian
Ex-services League & Ors. Etc. v. Union of India & Ors. Etc., [1991] 1 SCR
158 at p. 173).
G Rule 2301 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code incorporates
this principle. It lays down :
"A pensionable railway servant's claim to pension is regulated by
the rules in force at the time when he resigns or is discharged from
fl the service of Government."
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD v. C.RRANGADHAMAIAH [S.C.AGRAWAL,J.] 83
The respondents in these cases are employees who had retired after A
January 1, 1973 and before December 5, 1988. As per Rule 2301 of the
Indian Railway Establishment code they are entitled to have their pension
computed in accordance with Rule 2544 as it stood at the time of their
retirement. At that time the said rule prescribed that Running Allowance
limited to a maximum of 75% of the other emoluments should be taken B
into account for the purpose of calculation of average emoluments for
computation of pension and other retiral benefits. The said right of the
respondents employees to have their penoion computed on the basis of
their average emoluments being thus calculated is being taken away by the
amendments introduced in Rule 2544 by the impugned notifications dated C
December 5, 1988 inasmuch as the maximum limit has been reduced from
75% to 45% for the period from January 1, 1973 to March 31, 1979 and to
55% from April 1, 1979 onwards. As a result the amount of pension
payable to the respondents in accordance with the rules which were in
force at the time of their retirement has been reduced.
D
In Salabubbid Mohamed Yunus v. State of Andhra Pradesh, [1985) 1
SCR 930, the appellant was employed in the service of the former Indian
State of Hyderabad prior to coming into force of the Constitution of India.
On coming into force of the Constitution the appellant continued in the E
service of that State till he retired from service on January 21, 1956. The
appellant claimed that he was entitled to be paid the salary of a High Court
judge from October 1, 1947 and also claimed that he was entitled to receive
pension of Rs. 1000 a month in the Government of India currency, being
the maximum pension admissible under the rules. The said claim of the
F
appellant was negatived by the Government. He filed a Writ Petition in the
High Court of Andhra Pradesh. During the pendency of the said .Writ
Petition relevant rule was amended by notification dated February 3, 1971
with retrospective effect from October 1, 1954 and the expression "Rs. 1000
a month" in clause (b) of sub-rule (1) of Rule 299 was substituted by the
expression "Rs. 857.15 a month". This amendment was made in exercise of G
the power conferred by the proviso to Article 309 read with Article 313 of
the Constitution. The said amendment was struck down by this Court as
invalid and inoperative on the ground that it was violative of Articles 31(1)
and 19(1)'(t) of the Constitution, Relying upon the decision in Deokinandan
Prasad (supra), it was held : H
84 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A "The fundamental right to receive pension according to the rules
in force on the date of his retirement accrued to the appellant
when he retired from service, By making a retrospective amend-
ment to the said Rule 299(1) (b) more than fifteen years after that
right had accrued to him, what was done was to take away the
appellant's right to receive pension according to the rules in force
B
at the date of his retirement or in any event to curtail and abridge
that right, To that extent, that said amendment was void, " (pp.
938-939)
It is no doubt true that on December 5, 1988 when the impugned
C notifications were issued, the rights guaranteed under Articles 31(1) and
19(1)(f) were not available since the said provisions in the Constitution
stood omitted with effect from June 20, 1979 by virtue of the Constitution
(Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978. But the notifications G.S.R. 1143 (E)
and G.S.R. 1144 (E) have been made operative with effect from January
D 1, 1973 and April 1, 1979 respectively on which dates the rights guaranteed
under Articles 31(1) and 19(1)(f) were available. Both the notifications in
so far as they have been given retrospective operation are, therefore,
violative of the rights then guaranteed under Articles 19(1) and 31(1) of
the Constitution.
E Apart from being violative of the rights then available under Articles
31(1) and 19(1)(f), the impugned amendments, in so far as they have been
given retrospective oper.::ion, are also violative of the rights guaranteed
under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution on the ground that they are
unreasonable and arbitrary since the said amendments in Rule 2544 have
the effect of reducing the amount of pension that had become payable to
F
employees who had already retired from service on the date of issuance of
the impugned notifications, as per the provisions contained in Rule 2544
that were in force at the time of their retirement.
The learned Additional Solicitor General has, however, submitted
G that the impugned amendments cannot be regarded as arbitrary for the
reason that by the reduction of the maximum limit in respect of Running
Allowance from 75% to 45% for the period January 1, 1973 to March 31,
1974 and to 55% from April 1, 1979 onwards, the total amount of pension
payable to the employees has not been reduced. The submission of the
H learned Additional Solicitor General is that since the pay scales had been
CHAIRMAN, RAILWAY BOARD v. C.RRANGADHAMAIAH fS.C.AGRAWAl,J.) 85
revised under the 1973 Rules with effect from January 1, 1973, the A
maximum limit of 45% or 55% of the Running allowance will have to be
calculated on the basis of the revised pay scales while earlier the maximum
limit of 75% of Running Allowance was being calculated on the basis of
unrevised pay scales and, therefore, it cannot be said that there has been
any reduction in the amount of p_ension payable to the respondents as a B
result of the impugned amendments in Rule 2544 and it cannot be said that
their rights have been prejudicially affected in any manner. We are unable
to agree. As indicated earlier, Rule 2301 of the Indian Railway
Establishment Code prescribes in express terms that a pensionable railway
servant's claim to pension is regulated by the rules in force at the time when C
he resigns or is discharged from the service of Government. The
respondents who retired after January 1, 1973 but before December 5, 1988
~were, therefore, entitled to have their pension computed on the basis of
Rule 2544 as it stood on the date of their retirement. Under Rule 2544, as
it stood prior to amendment by the impugned notifications, pension was D
required to be computed by taking into account the revised pay scales as
per the 1973 Rules and the average emoluments were required to be
calculated on the basis of the maximum limit of Running Allowance at 75%
of the other emoluments, including the pay as per the revised pay scales
under the 1973 Rules. Merely because the respondents were not paid their
pension on that basis in view of the orders of the Railway Board dated E
January 21, 1974, March 22, 1976 and June 23, 1976, would not mean that
the pension payable to them was not required to be computed in
accordance with Rule 2544 as it stood on the date of their retirement. Once
it is held that pension payable to such employees had to be computed in
accordance with Rule 2544 as it stood on the date of their retirement, it is F
obvious that as a result of the amendments which have been introduced in
Rule 2544 by the impugned notifications dated December 5, 1988 the
pension that would be payable would be less than the amount that would
have been payable as per Rule 2544 as it stood on the date of retirement.
The Full Bench of the Tribunal has, in our opinion, rightly taken the view G
that the amendments that were made in Rule 2544 by the impugned
notifications dated december 5, 1988, to the extent the said amendments
have been given retrospective effect so as to reduce the maximum limit
from 75% to 45% in respect of the period from January 1, 1973 to March
31, 1979 and reduce it to 55% in respect of the period from April 1, 1979, H
86 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A are unreasonable and arbitrary and are violative of the rights guaranteed
under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
For the reasons aforementioned, the appeals as well as special leave
petitions filed by the Union of India and Railway Administration are
dismissed. But in the circumstances, their will be no order as to costs.
B
Special Leave Petitions Nos. 18721/1995, 4290-4307/1996, 18280/1995,
20547/1995 and 3282-83/1997 are delinked and they may be listed before
the appropriate Bench.
A.Q. Appeals dismissed.
...
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