UNION OF INDIA & ORS v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.) DEAD THROUGH LRS & ORS

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UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

v.

LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.) DEAD THROUGH LRS & ORS.

(Civil Appeal No. 8139 of 2019)

NOVEMBER 05, 2019

[L. NAGESWARA RAO AND HEMANT GUPTA, JJ.]

Service Law:

Pension – One Rank one Pension (OROP) – Entitlement to – Of the personnel of Army Postal Service (APS), on deputation from Department of Posts and Telegraph – Held: Th e Army Instructions show that the members of APS hold a lien in their parent department though conferred ranks in the Army – Such inst ructions clearly stipulate that the pension to the members of APS will be as per civil rules – Being member of APS during the peri od of their temporary Commission does not make them a pensioner o f Armed Forces entitling them to OROP .

Allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD : 1. The Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) of Armed Forces and Warrant Officers who have passed IPO/IR M examination of Posts & Telegraph Department are elig ible for the grant of Commission for a period of one year and for such period, their service may be required. The Commissi on under such instructions was meant for Junior Commissioned Of ficers and the Warrant Officers who have passed examination of the Department of Posts for Commission which is for a period of one year and as long the services are required. Thus, the o fficials of the Department of Posts continue to have lien over the posts under the Union. [Para 11] [24-C-D] 2. The Army Instructions 1959 supersede the earlier Army Instructions in so far as they relate to the grant of the Commission to the Gazetted Officers of the Posts & Telegraph De partment.

The eligibility for grant of Temporary Commission was in res pect of the Gazetted Officers, (substantive or officiating) of the Posts [2019] 14 S.C.R. 9 9 A B C D E F G H 10 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2019] 14 S.C.R.

& Telegraph Department. In terms of Clause 12 of th e Army Instructions 1959, all officers of the Posts & Tele graph Department, which will include Non-Gazetted Offices, were give n an option to opt for terms and conditions contained in Anne xure ‘A’ to these Instructions. On exercise of such option , they will be regarded as newly commissioned officers with an opt ion to draw civil or military rates of pay. In respect of pension, th ere is no option and that the officers would be governed by civil rules for service pension. [Para 12] [24-E-G] 3. As per Army Instructions 1985, the eligibility for grant of Temporary Commission in the APS is Gazetted Offi cers (substantive or officiating) of the Department of Posts an d JCOs of the APS and such WOs who have earned competitive vacancies in the Rank of JAOs/IPOs/IRMs in examination of the Department of Posts. Clause 12 of such instructions gives an option to all officers which will include the Gazette d and Non- Gazetted Officers of the Department of Posts serving in the APS to opt for the terms and conditions contained in Annexure ‘A’ to these instructions. On exercise of such instructions , they will be regarded as newly commissioned for the purpose of op tion to draw civil or military rates of pay. Such Annexure ‘ A’ to the Instructions again has a clause that the officers will be governed by civil rules for service pension. There is no option to opt for military pension. [Para 13] [24-G-H; 25-A-B] 4. Therefore, it is not correct to say that Army Instru ctions only cover the Gazetted Officers. The eligibility for grant of a Temporary Commission is the Gazetted Officers and JCOs e tc., but clause 12 of Army Instructions 1959 and 1985 cover all officers of the Department of Posts. It is not the case of the re spondents that their lien in the Department of Posts was ever te rminated.

[Para 14] [25-C]

5. The argument that the respondents were drawing more pension than their counterparts in the Department o f Posts, therefore, they are entitled to the periodical increase of pension on the parity of the personnel of the Armed Forces, is not te nable.

The respondents have discharged their duties as per Army Instructions issued from time to time. If they have drawn higher A B C D E F G H 11 salaries while working in the APS than other counterpar ts in the Department of Posts that will not make them at par with the members of the Armed Forces. Their birth mark is w ith the Department of Posts which mark was never removed, when they were serving as members of APS. The Instructions provid ed for an option on promotion on every rank in the Army to draw eithe r military pay and allowances or civil pay plus deputation allowances meaning thereby that they continue to hold their lien on th e civil posts in the Department of Posts. Since they hold a lien in the Department of Posts, they could be recalled by the Departm ent of Posts as well as they could seek reversion to th eir parent Department. [Para 15] [25-D-F] 6. The respondents were appointed in the Department of Posts and were sent on deputation to the APS. They hol d a lien in the Department of Posts inasmuch as they can be recalled by the Department of Posts and that they can seek reversion t o the parent department. Clause 3 (a) of Annexure ‘A’ to Army Instructions 1959 gives an officer an option at the time of commissioning and a further option on each occasion of promotion in Army rank to draw either military pay and allowances or civil pay and the deputation allowance. Sub clause (c) further provid es that pay and allowances during the joining period prior to being commissioned as well as during transit on reversion w ill be on the civil rates only, and no deputation allowance will be allowed.

Such Instructions also state that an officer serving in t he rank of Major, who is promoted to the grade of Director, Postal Ser vice in his parent department will be reverted to civil e mployment but he can be retained in the APS for a period not exc eeding four months at the discretion of the Quartermaster General. In respect of pension, there is a categorical instruction that the officers would be governed by civil rules for service pension. An option is available to opt for military or civil rules in respect of disability or special family pension. [Para 16] [25-G-H; 26-A-B] 7. In the subsequent Instructions 1985, superseding the earlier Instructions, the members of Department of Pos ts have an option at the time of Commission and further option on each occasion of promotion in Army rank to draw either military p ay UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

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and allowances or civil pay plus a deputation allowanc e. The condition of pay and allowances of officers joining from the Department of Posts during the period prior to Commiss ion as well as on transit on reversion will be on the civil rates and that no deputation allowance will be allowed remain unchanged. Again, the officers will be governed by civil rules for serv ice pension, whereas for disability and family pension, Army Instructi ons No.

64 of 1976 is applicable. [Para 17] [26-C-E] 8. In the first Army Instructions issued in the year 1953, there is no specific clause pertaining to pension but for disability and family pension, an option is given to opt for milit ary or civil rules governed by Chapter XXXVIII of Civil Service Regulations.

The service element of disability is contemplated on servi ce share basis at the time of eventual retirement from the servic e. Such Instructions were superseded in 1959 and it was tho se Instructions or later Army Instructions of 1985 which were in force when the respondents joined APS. [Para 18] [26-E-F] 9. Such Instructions clearly stipulate that the pens ion to the members of APS will be as per civil rules. Such Instructions also contemplate that at every stage of promotion in APS, an option is available to the officer to choose military pay or the c ivil pay. These conditions show that the members of the APS continue to hold lien in the Department of Posts th ough they were conferred ranks in the Army and were also entitled to certain benefits as the members of the Armed Forces but being m embers of the Armed Forces during the period of their Temp orary Commission does not make them a pensioner of the Ar med Forces as contemplated in the Circular dated 7 th November, 2015.

[Para 19] [26-G-H; 27-A]

10. The Circular dated 7th November, 2015 confers benefit of OROP upon Ex-servicemen, whereas the subsequent Cir cular dated 3 rd February, 2016 grants benefit of OROP to all pensioners in the rank of Commissioned Officers and honorary Commissioned Officers etc. who are in receipt of pension or family pension as on 1 st July, 2014. This Circular, as explained by Circular dated 7 th February 2016 is applicable only to personnel who are A B C D E F G H 13 drawing pension from the Defence Establishments as the said Circular is addressed to the Chiefs of three armed for ces of the country including personnel from Territorial Army. Such Circular has limited application and is not applicable to the other civil pensioners of the Union. Admittedly, none of the re spondents are in receipt of the pension from Defence but were granted pension by the Department of Posts. [Para 20] [27-B-C] 11. It is not correct that non-exclusion pensioners of APS in such Circular, would be covered by the decision to grant OROP.

Such circular excludes only those pensioners who are in receipt of pension for the services rendered in the armed force s of the country or the armed forces prior to the Independenc e of the Country or the forces which are getting pension for the r eason that they were members of the State forces at the time of merger of the States with Indian Union after independence. Such exclusion is of distinct category who are pensioners of the Army at s ome stage but have no relation with the pensioners of defence forces as on 1 st July 2014. There was never any condition in any policy decision that the members of APS will be treated as pensioners of the Armed Forces. [Para 21] [27-D-F] 12. The reliance on 1979 Rules wherein the Ex-serviceme n have been defined to include the members of APS, is ag ain not tenable. Such Rules are applicable for the purpose of recr uitment to certain posts in the Central Civil Services. The wide definition and purport of the Rules is to provide reservation for Ex- servicemen for the purpose of employment in the civ il administration. Such provision is not of general applicati on so as to extend the meaning assigned in a particular rule t o another set of Instructions. Similarly, the Circular dated 3 rd February, 2016 is applicable to the defence pensioners. The Circulars dated 7 th November, 2015 and 3 rd February, 2016 were addressed to the Chiefs of the Armed Forces in respect of the pension ers of the forces which is evident from clause 4 of the Circular da ted 3 rd February, 2016 when, the benefit of OROP is conferred on all pensioners including the Commissioned Officers. [Pa ra 22] [27-G-H; 28-A] UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

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13. The respondents were holders of Temporary Commission only to facilitate the grant of rank and other benefits but they cannot be called as Commissioned Officers. E ven the argument that the members of Territorial Army have been granted benefit of OROP is again not tenable for the reason that the Territorial Army is governed by a statute and is Armed For ces of the Union, who have been specifically included in the Circular dated 3 rd February, 2016. This Court in exercise of judicial review will interpret the policy decisions as they exist rat her than to expand the scope of Circulars when such benefits we re not conferred on the members of APS. [Para 23] [28-B-C] 14. It is not disputed that retirement age of a reg ular Commissioned Officer of the rank of Lt. Colonel is 5 4 years.

The respondents have retired from service corresponding t o the age of the retirement of the Department of Posts i.e. 58 years or 60 years. Such fact only shows that the respondent s are the holders of civil posts entitled to civil pension and are not the Ex- servicemen to which benefit of OROP was conferred. If the respondents are to be accepted as members of the Armed Forces in respect of retiral benefits, they would have been mad e to retire at the age of 54 years i.e. the age of the superann uation of the personnel of the Armed Forces in the rank of Lt. Colonel.

[Para 25] [29-D-E]

15. Therefore, the persons such as the respondent and t he intervenors on deputation to APS from Department of Posts ar e not entitled to the benefit of OROP. [Para 26] [29-F] Major M.R. Penghal v. Union of India (1998) 5 SCC 454 – relied on.

Case Law Reference

(1998) 5 SCC 454 relied on. Para 24

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 8139 of 2019.

From the Judgment and Order dated 09.02.2017 of the Armed Forces Tribunal, Regional Bench, Jabalpur in EA/04 (J)/2016 in RE OA/ 11(J)/2016 and order dated 06.10.2017 in M.A.112(J)/2017.

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R. Balasubramanian, Sr. Adv., O. P. Shukla, Mukesh Kum ar Maroria, Advs. for the Appellants.

Huzefa Ahmadi, Sr. Adv., Sanjai Kumar Pathak, Ms. Shasi Pathak, Arvind Kumar Tripathi, Rohan Sharma, Niraj Sharma, Advs. for t he Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by HEMANT GUPTA, J.

1. The challenge in the present appeal is to an order passed by the Armed Forces Tribunal, Regional Bench, Jabalpur 1 on 9 th February, 2017 whereby, an Original Application filed by the respondent - Lt. Col. Om Dutt Sharma was allowed holding that the respondent is entitled to the benefit of One Rank One Pension 2.

2. The respondent died during pendency of the appeal. His legal heirs have been brought on record, whereas respondent Nos. 3 to 8 6 have been impleaded as intervenors vide order dated 14 th May, 2018 in view of the fact that the said intervenors claim the sam e benefit as claimed and granted to the deceased respondent. Since the issue is purely legal and the fact that large numbers of personnel of Army Postal Service 3 are involved, we have heard learned counsel for the parties on merits in respect of their entitlement to OROP in terms of Government of India’s Circular dated 7 th November, 2015.

3. The respondents were working on the non-gazetted posts in the Department of Posts under the Government of India and were taken on deputation in the APS from time to time. The deceased respondent was taken on deputation in the year 1962. He relinquished his Temporary Commission in the Army as Lt. Colonel on 31 st December, 1984 and retired on 14 th May, 1985 after repatriation to his parent department i.e.

Department of Posts. The stand of the intervenors is that th ey joined APS on deputation either as Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) or the Warrant Officer (WO) and were not repatriated to th eir parent department. All the intervenors retired from the APS on attai ning the age of superannuation, therefore, they claim benefit of OROP.

4. Learned counsel for the appellants refers to the different Army Instructions issued from time to time to contend that for service pension, officers of APS on deputation from the Department of Posts are governed 1 for short, ‘Tribunal’ 2 for short, ‘OROP’ 3 for short, ‘APS’ UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

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by civil pension rules, whereas in respect of disability or special family pension, the option is available to be governed by military or civil rules. It is also contended that age of superannuation of a Lt. Colonel i n the Army is 54 years, whereas a person holding civil post under the Union continues to discharge the duties up to the age of superannuation i.e. up to the age of 58 or 60 Years. It is also contended that the mem bers of APS on deputation from the Department of Posts serve ti ll the age of superannuation meant for civil employees of the Union. The personnel of the Department of Posts are not granted pension by the Mini stry of Defence but are in receipt of pension from the Department of Posts as the members of the Union holding civil posts.

5. The relevant extracts of the different Army Instructions issued from time to time read as under:

“Army Instructions Nos. 107 of 1953 4

1. Temporary Commissions of a period of one year and for so long thereafter as their services may be required will be granted in the Army Postal Service or the Regular Army on the terms and conditions laid down in the Annexure to this AI.

2. Eligibility :- JCOs of the APS and such WOs as have passed the IPOs/IRMs examination of the P and T Department.

3. Length of Commission :- The Commission will be granted for a period of one year and for so long thereafter as their ser vices may be required.

xx xx xx

10. Advance of Pay :- As admissible under the rules of the P and T Department.

Annexure to Army Instructions No. 107 of 1953 1. xx xx xx 2. Rank, seniority and Promotion :- (a) JCOs/WOs will be granted Temporary Commission in the rank of 2/Lt except that JCOs/WOs I having 8 years serv ice as JCO/WO I and in the ranks would be commissioned as Lt and granted 2 years ante date for the purpose of pay only.

4 For short “Army Instructions 1953"

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(b) Officers will be governed by the Acting Promotion Rules in force from time to time. All gazetted service will count as Commissioned service for the purpose of acting promotions.

xx xx xx

6. (a) Disability and family pensions :- (i) Officers governed by chapter XXXVIII C.S. R. may elect to be governed either by military or civil rules. When electing military rules the officers will be granted disability element of pension like regular I.C. OS.

(ii) Those governed by Central Civil Services (Extraordinar y Pension) Rules will be eligible for disability/family pensions under military rules. The disability element of pension will be as for regular I.C. Os.

Army Instructions No. 295 of 1959 5

1. In supersession of the orders contained in A.I. 107/53, insofar as they relate to the grant of commissions to gazetted officers of the Post and Telegraphs Department, temporary commission in the Army Postal Service will be granted in future on the te rms and conditions laid down in annexure ‘A ’ to this Army Instruction.

2. Eligibility :- Gazetted officers (substantive or officiating) of the Posts and Telegraphs Department, preferably with previous service in the Army, Navy or Air Force, will be eligible.

3. Length of Commission :- The Commission will be granted for a period of one year and for so long thereafter as their ser vices may be required but not exceeding the age of compul sory retirement in the Army. The officers will, however, normally be retained in the Army Postal Service for minimum period of four years.

xx xx xx

12. Option – All officers of the Posts and Telegraph Department at present serving in the Army Postal Service will be allowed to opt for the terms and conditions contained in Annexure ‘A’ to this Army Instructions from the date of its issue provided that th ey 5 For short “Army Instructions 1959"

UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

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satisfy the conditions laid down therein. On exercising such option, they will be regarded as newly commissioned for purposes of the option to draw civil or military rates of pay under paragraph 3(b)

of annexure ‘A’. The existing orders will continue to apply to other serving officers.

Annexure ‘A’ to Army Instructions No. 295 of 1959 1. xx xx xx 2. Rank, Promotion and seniority- (a) On commissioning in the Army Postal Service, officers will be ranked as follows:

xx xx xx

The Director General, Post and Telegraphs, may, how ever, recommend variations in ranking when it is necessary due to paucity of suitable volunteers.

(e) An officer serving in the rank of Major, who is promoted to the grade of Director, Postal Service, in his parent dep artment, will be reverted to civil employment. Such an officer may however be retained in the Army Postal Service for a period not exceeding four months at the discretion of the Quartermaster General.

3. Pay and Allowances

(a) xx xx xx

(b) An officer will however have an option at the t ime of commissioning and a further option on each occasion of promotion Class II Officers with less than 2 years gazette service 2 nd Lieutenant Class II/Class I officers with over 2 years but not over 4 years gazetted service Lieutenant Class II officers with over 5 years but not over 8 years gazetted service and class I officers with over 3 years but not over 5 years gazetted service Captain Class I officers with over 5 years but not over 12 years gazetted service Major Class I (Senior scale) officers with over 12 years gazetted service Lieutenant Colonel A B C D E F G H 19 in Army rank to draw either military pay and allowances or civil pay plus a deputation allowance as under:- An officer below the grade of Director Postal Services – 20% An officer of the grade of Director Postal Services and abov e – 12½% The term ‘civil pay’ will take into account increments of civil pay, as they become due and the operations of the ‘Next Below Rule’ affecting officiating promotions under the civil rules applicable to the officers’ permanent cadre.

(c) Pay and allowances during the joining period prior to being commissioned as well as during transit on reversion will be on the Civil rates only, and no deputation allowance will be allowed in addition.

xx xx xx

6. Pension

(a) For service pension, officers will be governed by civil rules.

(b) For disability and special family pension, officers w ill be permitted to elect to be governed by either military or civil rules.

The election may be made by an officer at any time during service with the Army or after it, and once made will be final. When an officer dies without making the election, his family will be eligible to receive awards under the civil or the military rules whichever was more favourable. Those who elect military rules for disability pension will be entitled to only disability element of disab ility pension as for regular commissioned officers in addition to civil pay and allowances or service pension as the case may be.

xx xx xx

9. Special Provisions Applicable to Officers Electing Civil Rates of Pay – (a) In regard to other conditions service including dearness and compensatory allowances and other concessions, officers on civil rates of pay will be governed by the rules applicable to th em in their civil appointments except to the extent indicated on t he succeeding sub-paragraphs.

UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

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Army Instructions No. 29 of 1985 6

In supersession of the orders contained in A.I. 107/53, and AI 295/59, terms and conditions laid down in annexure ‘A’ to thi s Army Instructions will apply to the Temporary Commission s granted in the Army Postal Service of Regular Army.

Annexure ‘A’

1. xx xx xx

2. Rank, Promotion and seniority –

(a) In the case of JCOs/WOs of APS – JCOs/WOs will be granted temporary commission in the rank of 2 Lt except that JCOs/WOs having 8 years service as JCO/WO and in the ranks would be commissioned as Lt and granted 2 years ante date for the purpose of pay only.

(b) In the case of gazetted officers of the Department of Posts – On commissioning in the Army Postal Service, Officers of the Department of Posts will be ranked as follows:- The Director General, Postal Services, may, however, recommend variation in ranking when it is necessary due to paucity of suitable volunteers.

3. (a) xx xx xx

(b) An officer will however have an option at the t ime of commissioning and a further option on each occasion of promotion in Army rank to draw either military pay and allowances or civil pay plus a deputation allowance as under:

6 For short “Army Instructions 1985"

PSS/PMS Group ‘B’ Officers - Lt/Capt

IPS Group ‘A’ Officers – Junior Scale - Capt IPS Group ‘A’ Officers – Senior Scale - Major IPS Group ‘A’ Officers with over ten years - Lt. Co l.

Service or Director Postal Services

Director Postal Services drawing base pay of - Col.

Rs.1800/- or

more

Postmaster General Level II - Brig

Postmaster General Level I - Major Gen

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The term ‘civil pay’ will take into account increments of civil pay, as they become due and the operations of the ‘Next Below Rule’ affecting officiating promotions under the civil rules applicable to the officers’ permanent cadre.

(c) Pay and allowances of officers joining from the Department of Posts during the period prior to being commissioned as well as transit on reversion will be on the civil rates only and no deputation allowance will be allowed in addition.

4. xx xx xx

5. xx xx xx

6. Pension

(a) For service pension, officers will be governed by civil rules.

(b) For disability and family pension, the officer or, whe n the officer dies in service, his family will be eligible to receive awards under AI 64/76 as amended from time to time.

7. xx xx xx

8. xx xx xx

9. Relinquishment of Commission and repatriation to the Department of Posts (1) An officer shall relinquish his temporary commission in Army Postal Service and be repatriated to the Department of Posts or proceed on compulsory retirement on superannuation by order of the Central Government or the authority specified in sub-para (2)

with effect from the afternoon of the date specified in the orders.

(2) The authority specified in Sub Para (1) shall be the Additional Director General Army Postal Service.

(3) Approval of the Central Government will be obtained by the Additional Director General Army Postal Services prior to the issue of orders in all cases except the following:- An officer below the grade of Director Postal Services - 20% An officer of the grade of Director - 12½% Postal Services and above UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

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(a) Where an officer has completed the minimum period of engagement as specified in Para 3 of AI 29/85 and s eeks repatriation to the Department of Posts.

(b) Where the service of the officer is recalled by the Department of Posts.

(c) Where the officer has completed his period of engageme nt and has outlived his utility to the APS and (d) Where an officer has attained the age of compulsory retirement in the Army Postal Service and instead of being repatriated to the Department of Posts seeks retirement from Army Postal Service.

(4) The consent of the Department of Posts will be obtained and a minimum not of three months shall be given to the officer before his relinquishment of commission and repatriation t o the Department of Posts.”

6. Mr. Huzefa Ahmadi, learned senior counsel for the respondents argued that the respondents are not the Gazetted Off icers of the Department of Posts to whom the Army Instructions 1959 are applicable.

In fact, Mr. Ahmadi relies upon Army Instructions 195 3 and Army Instructions 1985 to contend that the respondents are entitled to the benefit of OROP. It is submitted that the argument of the appellants that the respondents held a lien on equivalent posts in the Department of Posts when they retired from APS, is not tenable as the pension of the respondent is higher than their respective counterparts in the Department of Posts, therefore, there is no parity with the pension drawn by the respondents with the person who continue to work in the Department of Posts.

7. It is argued that the pension of the respondent is calculated on the basis of last pay drawn which includes the components of Military Pay Scale, Military Service Pay, whereas, the civil p osts in the Postal Department do not have such component of Military Ser vice Pay.

Therefore, their last pay drawn is not comparable to any other civil pay and also their pension. Their pension has always been equal t o other Army Officers.

8. It is argued that the Instructions to grant OROP on 7 th November, 2015 w.e.f. 1 st July, 2014 is a beneficial provision for the ‘Ex-servicemen’. Since the respondents were holding Army ra nk and A B C D E F G H 23 were entitled to the benefits of medical and other benefit s at par with the officers of the Army, therefore, the respondents being Ex-servicemen are entitled to the benefit of OROP . Learned counsel for the respondents refers to the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Central Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1979 7. In terms of Rule 2(c) as amended, the Ex- servicemen include the personnel retired from APS. Lea rned counsel also refers to Army Instructions 1953 to contend that the Annexu re attached to the said Instructions permits service pension. Mr. A hmadi argued that the respondents were conferred Army rank and carry such rank even after retirement. It is argued that it cannot be imagined that in the Department of Posts, a civilian would hold a rank of Lt. Colonel, therefore, the respondents as Ex-servicemen are entitled to the benefit of Circular dated 7 th November, 2015 granting OROP . It is also argued that the Circular dated 3 rd February, 2016 makes the policy of OROP applicable to all Commissioned Officers including honorary Commissioned Officers which would include Temporary Commissioned Officers such as the respondents. Therefore, the respondents are co vered by the clarification dated 3 rd February, 2016.

9. The Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex-Service men Welfare on 7 th November, 2015 issued a letter to the Chiefs of Army Staff, Naval Staff and Air Staff to implement OROP for the Ex- servicemen w.e.f. 1 st July, 2014. Relevant clause reads as under:

“2. It has now been decided to implement ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) for the Ex-Servicemen with effect from 01.07.2014.

OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Defence Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement, which, implies bridging the gap between the rates of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals.”

10. Subsequently, another letter was issued by the Ministr y of Defence, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare on 3 rd February, 2016 wherein it was decided that the benefit of OROP was being conferred to Defence Forces Personnel and to all pensioners in the rank of honorary Commissioned Officers etc. Relevant clause reads as under:

“4. The provisions of this letter shall be applicable to all pensioners/ family pensioners who had been retired/ discharged/invalidated 7 for short, ‘1979 Rules’ UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

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out from service/died in service or after retirement in the rank of Commissioned Officers, honorary Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ Ors and Non-Combatants (Enrolled) of Army, Navy, Air Force, Defence Security Corps, Territorial Army & Ex-State Forces and are in receipt of pension/family pension as on 1.7.2014.

4.1. The provisions of this order, however, do not apply to UK/ HKSRA/KCIO pensioners, Pakistan & Burma Army pensioners, Reservist pensioners and pensioners in receipt of E x-gratia payments.”

11. We have considered the respective arguments of lea rned counsel for the parties. The JCOs of Armed Forces and Warrant Officers who have passed IPO/IRM examination of Posts & Tele graph Department are eligible for the grant of Commission for a period of one year and for such period, their service may be required. The Commission under such instructions was meant for Junior Commissioned Offic ers and the Warrant Officers who have passed examinatio n of the Department of Posts for Commission which is for a period of one year and as long services are required. Thus, the officials of the Department of Posts continue to have lien over the posts under the Union.

12. The next Army Instructions 1959 supersede the earlier Army Instructions in so far as they relate to the grant of the Commission to the Gazetted Officers of the Posts & Telegraph Department. The eligibility for grant of Temporary Commission was in respect of the Gaz etted Officers, (substantive or officiating) of the Posts & Telegraph Department. In terms of Clause 12 of the Army Instructions 19 59, all officers of the Posts & Telegraph Department, which will include Non- Gazetted Offices, were given an option to opt for terms and conditions contained in Annexure ‘A’ to these Instructions. On exercise of such option, they will be regarded as newly commissioned officers with an option to draw civil or military rates of pay. In respect of pension, there is no option and that the officers would be governed by civil rul es for service pension.

13. As per Army Instructions 1985, the eligibility for grant of Temporary Commission in the APS is Gazetted Officers (substantive or officiating) of the Department of Posts and JCOs of the APS an d such WOs who have earned competitive vacancies in the Rank of J AOs/ IPOs/IRMs in examination of the Department of Posts. Clause 12 of A B C D E F G H 25 such instructions gives an option to all officers which will incl ude the Gazetted and Non-Gazetted Officers of the Department of Posts serving in the APS to opt for the terms and conditions contained in Annexure ‘A’ to these instructions. On exercise of such instructions, the y will be regarded as newly commissioned for the purpose of option to draw civil or military rates of pay. Such Annexure ‘A’ to the Instructions again has a clause that the officers will be governed by civil rules for service pension. There is no option to opt for military pension.

14. Therefore, we do not find any merit in the argument raised that Army Instructions only cover the Gazetted Officers. The eligibility for grant of a Temporary Commission is the Gazetted Officers and JCOs etc. but clause 12 of Army Instructions 1959 and 1985 cover all officers of the Department of Posts. It is not the case of the resp ondents that their lien in the Department of Posts was ever terminated.

15. The argument that the respondents were drawing more pension than their counterparts in the Department of Posts, there fore, they are entitled to the periodical increase of pension on the parity of the personnel of the Armed Forces, is not tenable. The respondents have discha rged their duties as per Army Instructions issued from time to tim e. If they have drawn higher salaries while working in the APS than other counterparts in the Department of Posts that will not make them at par with the members of the Armed Forces. Their birth mark is with the Department of Posts which mark was never removed, when they were serving as members of APS. The Instructions provided for an option on promotion on every rank in the Army to draw either military pa y and allowances or civil pay plus deputation allowances meaning thereby that they continue to hold their lien on the civil posts in the Dep artment of Posts. Since they hold a lien in the Department of Posts t hey could be recalled by the Department of Posts as well as they could seek reversion to their parent Department.

16. The respondents were appointed in the Department of Posts and were sent on deputation to the APS. They hold a l ien in the Department of Posts inasmuch as they can be recalled by the Department of Posts and that they can seek reversion to the parent depa rtment.

Clause 3 (a) of Annexure ‘A’ to Army Instructions 1959 gives an officer an option at the time of commissioning and a further option o n each occasion of promotion in Army rank to draw either military pay and allowances or civil pay and the deputation allowance. Sub cla use (c)

UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

DEAD THROUGH LRS. [HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

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26 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2019] 14 S.C.R.

further provides that pay and allowances during the joining period prior to being commissioned as well as during transit on reversion will be on the civil rates only, and no deputation allowance will be allowed. Such Instructions also state that an officer serving in the rank of Major, who is promoted to the grade of Director, Postal Service in his parent department will be reverted to civil employment but he can be retained in the APS for a period not exceeding four months at the discr etion of the Quartermaster General. In respect of pension, there is a categorical instruction that the officers would be governed by civil rules for service pension. An option is available to opt for military or civil rules in respect of disability or special family pension.

17. In the subsequent Instructions 1985, superseding the ear lier Instructions, the members of Department of Posts have an option at the time of Commission and further option on each occasion of promotion in Army rank to draw either military pay and allowances or civil pay plus a deputation allowance. The condition of pay and allowances of officers joining from the Department of Posts during the per iod prior to Commission as well as on transit on reversion will be on the civil rates and that no deputation allowance will be allowed remain unchanged.

Again, the officers will be governed by civil rules for serv ice pension, whereas for disability and family pension, Army Instructions No. 64 of 1976 is applicable.

18. In the first Army Instructions issued in the year 1953, there is no specific clause pertaining to pension but for disabi lity and family pension, an option is given to opt for military or civil rules governed by Chapter XXXVIII of Civil Service Regulations. The service element of disability is contemplated on service share basis at the time of eventual retirement from the service. Such Instructions were superseded in 1959 and it was those Instructions or later Army Instructions of 1985 which were in force when the respondents joined APS.

19. Such Instructions clearly stipulate that the pension to the members of APS will be as per civil rules. Such Ins tructions also contemplate that at every stage of promotion in APS, an option is available to the officer to choose military pay or the civil pay. These conditions show that the members of the APS continue to hold lien in the Department of Posts though they were conferred ranks in the Army and w ere also entitled to certain benefits as the members of the Armed F orces but being members of the Armed Forces during the period of their Temporary A B C D E F G H 27 Commission does not make them a pensioner of the Armed For ces as contemplated in the Circular dated 7 th November, 2015.

20. The said Circular confers benefit of OROP upon Ex- servicemen, whereas the subsequent Circular dated 3 rd February, 2016 grants benefit of OROP to all pensioners in the rank of Commissioned Officers and honorary Commissioned Officers etc. who are in receipt of pension or family pension as on 1 st July, 2014. This Circular, as explained by Circular dated 7 th February 2016 is applicable only to personnel who are drawing pension from the Defence Establishme nts as the said Circular is addressed to the Chiefs of three arme d forces of the country including personnel from Territorial Army. Such Circular has limited application and is not applicable to the other civil pensioners of the Union. Admittedly, none of the respondents are in receipt of the pension from Defence but were granted pension by the Department of Posts.

21. We do not find merit in the argument that the benefit of OROP is not extended to certain category of pensioners as mentioned in p ara 4.1 of the Circular dated 7 th November 2015 only. Therefore, the pensioners of APS having not been excluded in such Circular, would be covered by the decision to grant OROP. Such circular excludes on ly those pensioners who are in receipt of pension for the services rendered in the armed forces of the country or the armed forces pri or to the Independence of the Country or the forces which are getting p ension for the reason that they were members of the State forces at the time of merger of the States with Indian Union after independence. Such exclusion is of distinct category who are pensioners of the Army at some stage but have no relation with the pensioners of defence forces a s on 1 st July 2014. There was never any condition in any policy decision that the members of APS will be treated as pensioners of the Ar med Forces.

22. The reliance of Mr. Ahmadi on 1979 Rules wherein the Ex- servicemen have been defined to include the members of APS, is again not tenable. Such Rules are applicable for the purpose of recruitment to certain posts in the Central Civil Services. The wide definition and purport of the Rules is to provide reservation for Ex-servicemen for the purpose of employment in the civil administration. Such provision is not of general application so as to extend the meaning assigned in a particular rule to another set of Instructions. Similarly, the Circular dated 3 rd February, 2016 is applicable to the defence pensioners. The Circula rs dated 7 th UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

DEAD THROUGH LRS. [HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

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28 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2019] 14 S.C.R.

November, 2015 and 3 rd February, 2016 were addressed to the Chiefs of the Armed Forces in respect of the pensioners of the force s which is evident from clause 4 of the Circular dated 3 rd February, 2016 when, the benefit of OROP is conferred on all pensioners incl uding the Commissioned Officers.

23. The respondents were holders of Temporary Commission only to facilitate the grant of rank and other benefits but they cannot be called as Commissioned Officers. Even the argument that the membe rs of Territorial Army have been granted benefit of OROP is again not tenable for the reason that the Territorial Army is governed by a statute and is Armed Forces of the Union, who have been specifically included in the Circular dated 3 rd February, 2016. This Court in exercise of judicial review will interpret the policy decisions as they exist rat her than to expand the scope of Circulars when such benefits were not c onferred on the members of APS.

24. This Court in a judgement reported as Major M.R. Penghal v. Union of India 8 examined somewhat similar question but in different context. In that case, a clerk of the Department of Posts was p romoted as Major in the APS. He initially sought voluntary retirement from the Department of Posts but subsequently sought to withdraw hi s such request. The question was as to whether the appellant therein can invoke jurisdiction of the Central Administrative Tribunal or the High Court, it being a case prior to the enactment of Armed Forced Tribunal Act 2007.

This Court held as under: -

“9. As stated above, although the appellant was selected by t he Postal Department for appointment to the post of clerk, but he could not be given any appointment due to want of vacancy in the unit of his choice. Under such circumstances, the appellant was offered an appointment to work as a clerk in the Army Post al Service on the condition that he would remain a civilian employee on deputation in the Army. The appellant accepted the aforesaid offer and agreed to the conditions that he would revert to the civil appointment in Posts and Telegraphs Department on his rele ase from the Indian Army Postal Service. With these conditions, the appellant continued to serve in the Army as a permanent employee of the Posts and Telegraphs Department on deputation and was 8 (1998) 5 SCC 454 A B C D E F G H 29 promoted up to the rank of a Major in the Indian Army. However, the appellant was only given a temporary commission and he worked as such till the date when his relinquishment was ordered.

The aforesaid facts clearly demonstrate that the appell ant has a lien with the Posts and Telegraphs Department worki ng on deputation in the Indian Army Postal Service and at no po int of time the appellant became a full-fledged army personnel. Sin ce the appellant was not a member of the Armed Forces and continued to work as a civilian on deputation to the Army Postal Service, his case was covered under Section 14(1)( a) of the Administrative Tribunals Act. In that view of the matter, the High Court was right in rejecting the writ petition filed by the appellant, whereas the Central Administrative Tribunal erroneously accepted the claim of the appellant that he is an army personnel………... “ 25. Another undisputed fact that the respondents have retired from service corresponding to the age of the retirement of the Department of Posts i.e. 58 years or 60 years. It is not disputed that retirement age of a regular Commissioned Officer of the rank of Lt. Colonel is 54 years.

Such fact only shows that the respondents are the holders of civil posts entitled to civil pension and are not the Ex-servicemen to which benefit of OROP was conferred. If the respondents are to be accepted as members of the Armed Forces in respect of retiral benefits, they would have been made to retire at the age of 54 years i.e. th e age of the superannuation of the personnel of the Armed Forces in the rank of Lt.

Colonel.

26. We, thus, hold that the persons such as the respondent and the intervenors on deputation to APS from Department of Posts are not entitled to the benefit of OROP. Therefore, the order of the Tribunal is not sustainable in law and hence set aside. The appeal is allowed.

Kalpana K. Tripathy Appeal allowed.

UNION OF INDIA v. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.)

DEAD THROUGH LRS. [HEMANT GUPTA, J.]