IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATE : 08.09.2009 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.J.MUKHOPADHAYA AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA ELANGO W.A. NOS.1435 TO 1442 OF 2008 AND M.P. NOS. 1 OF 2008 (8 Nos.) W.A. NO.1435 OF 2008 1. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR & EXECUTIVE OFFICER ICICI BANK LTD. CORPORATE OFFICE, ICICI TOWERS BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX BUNDRA EAST, MUMBAI 400 051. 2. ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER ICICI BANK LTD., CORPORATE OFFICE KARUMUTHU NILAYAM NO.192, MOUNT ROAD CHENNAI – 6. .. APPELLANTS IN ALL WA'S/ RESPONDENTS 2 & 3 - VS - 1. ADDITIONAL SECRETARY MINISTRY OF FINANCE & COMPANY AFFAIRS (BANKING & INSURANCE) NO.235, JEEVANDEE BUILDINGS SANSAD MARG – 1 NEW DELHI 110 001. ..I RESPONDENT IN ALL WA'S/ 1ST RESPONDENT IN WPS 2. V.KANNAPPAN 3. S.P.SUBRAMANIAN 4. A.L.SUBRAMANIAN 5. N.SUNDARAM 6. C.T.MEIYAPPAN 7. A.L.CHIDAMBARAM 8. D.JAYAKUMAR 9. S.SUBRAMANIAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 10. S.S.CHOCKALINGAM 11. R.M.ALAMELU 12. R.M.RAJENDRAN 13. P.L.PALANIAPPAN 14. M.LAKSHMANAN 15. K.KANNAPPAN 16. P.L.KARUPPAN CHETTY 17. R.KARUPPIAH 18. V.R.RENGANATHAN 19. K.NARAYANAN 20. S.P.RAMASUBBU 21. L.ARPUTHARAJ .. RESPONDENTS/PETITIONERS WA.NO.1436/08 : 2. A. SUNDARAM 3. M. ALAMELU MANGAI 4. SP. RAMAIAH 5. N. VENKATAKRISHNAN 6. VE. NALLAKUMAR 7. P. SHANMUGAM 8. MPS. MUTHUPALANIAPPAN 9. M. MEENAKSHI SUNDARAM 10. SP. KARUPPAIAH 11. M. VALLIAPPAN 12. R. ANDAL 13. KANTHIMAOY BANERJEE 14. KIRAN SANKARNATH 15. R. SAHTYAMOORTHY 16. NS. KUPPUSAMY 17. RM. LAKSHMANAN 18. G. NAGAPPAN 19. VE. SENTHILVADIVELU 20. T. MANICKAVASAGAM 21. N. ARUNACHALAM 22. AM. MANI 23. VE. VAIRAVAN 24. SM. RAMADURAI 25. V. MUTHURAMAN 26. A. MURUGAPPAN 27. M. MUTHUKARUPPAN 28. SP. ARUNACHALAM 29. C. RAMU 30. VR. SUBRAMANIAN 31. RM. SOLAYAN 32. SP. VISALAKSHI 33. ALAMELU KRISHNAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 34. AL. VALLIAPPAN 35. M. MURUGAPPAN 36. RM. SUBRAMNAIAN 37. AL. KASIVISWANATHAN 38. PR. SL. SATHAPPAN 39. T.MAHENDRAN 40. V. MUTHKRISHNAN 41. S. MUTHURAMAN 42. T. PALANIAPPAN 43. L. NACHIAPPAN 44. R. VALLIKANNU 45. RM VALLIAPPAN 46. J. HARIHARAN 47. M. MEENAL 48. P. RAJAGOPAL 49. A. THENAPPAN 50. S. RAMU 51. RM. CHIDAMBARAM 52. M. CHANDRAN 53. RM. NALLIAPPAN 54. N. ANANTHAKRISHNAN 55. M. GANESH BOSE 56. M. VALLIAPPAN 57. K. PALANIAPPAN 58. AL. SETHURAMAN 59. M. MEYAMMAI 60. N. SHANMUGASUNDARAM 61. L. GURUNATHAN 62. PS. PRESENNA RATHINAM 63. SP. SUBRAMANIAN 64. D. KALAISELVI 65. N. PALANIAPPAN 66. PL SUBRAMANIAN 67. N. THENAPPAN 68. SP. RAMASWAMY 69. MANI SATHIYANARAYANAMOROTHY 70. N. UNNAMALAI 71. NAL. PERIYAKARUPPAN 72. PL SHAMUGANATHAN 73. AL. A. KASIVISWANATHAN 74. A. KALYANI 75. V. MEENAKSHI 76. S. JEYAPRAKASH 77. V. MURUGAPPAN 78. PL. SELVAM 79. S. MURALI 80. KR. RAMANATHAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 81. PL. PALANIYAPPAN 82. V. MUTHUKARUPPY 83. K. MEENAKSHI 84. VR. MEENAKSHI 85. P. RAGHAVAN 86. P. RAMAMOORTHY 87. RM CHIDAMBARAM 88. M.ABDUL RAHIM 89. S.MADHUSUDAN REDDY 90. S.ALAGAPPAN 91. NR. PALANIKUMAR 92. S.KANJANA 93. C.LAKSHMANAN 94. AL. RAMANATHAN 95. V.VIMALA 96. BHUBANESWARI MAHALINGAM 97. VR. LAKSHMI 98. KR. MUTHAIAH 99. S.MEYYAPPAN 100. RM. ALAGAMMAI 101. VE. RAMANATHAN 102. BAKKIYALAKSHMI ARUNACHALAM 103. S.JOHIBAI 104. R.NAGAPPAN 105. RA. SIVAGAMI 106. S.VISWANATHAN 107. U.MURUGAPPAN 108. AR. KANNAN 109. KR. ALAGAPPAN 110. M.KRISHNAPPAN 111. V.PANACHAPAKESAN 112. MP. THENAPPAN 113. AL. LAKSHMAN 114. R.MUTHUSUBRAMANIAN 115. CT. MURUGAPPAN 116. KR. SENTHILNATHAN 117. TR. CHOCKALINGAM 118. VS. SELVARAJAN 119. AL. MUTHIAH 120. K.SUBRAMANIAN 121. OV. CHANDRASEKARAN 122. RM. ALAMELU 123. RM. SUNDARAVALLI 124. V.KANNAPPAN 125. S.PALANIAPPAN 126. SP. ANNAPOORANI 127. S.AL.RAMAKRISHNAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 128. RM. CHIDAMBARAM 129. R.MUTHUVEERAPPAN 130. P.NACHIAPPAN 131. P.KOTHANDARMAN 132. S.ALAGAPPAN 133. C.RAMASAMY 134. K.CHOCKALINGAM 135. RM. SIVARAMAN 136. N.VENKATACHALAM 137. AL. NATARAJAN 138. C.SUNDAR 139. J.MOHAN 140. S.SATHYANARAYANAMOORTHY 141. AR. THENAPPAN 142. INDIRA ARUNACHALAM 143. T.RAMASAMY 144. R.SRINIVASAN 145. S.NAGAPPAN 146. K.VAIRAVAN 147. PL. RAMANATHAN 148. S.SEVUGANCHETTY 149. S.RAMANATHAN 150. N.MEENAKSHISUNDARAM 151. N.NACHIAPPAN 152. RM. RAJALAKSHMI 153. PRATAP NALLATHAMBI 154. VE. VAIRAVAN 155. LS. SHARMA 156. KM. ARUMUGAM 157. N.NAGAPPAN 158. S.SAMBANDAM 159. PR. LAKSHMANAN 160. NAGAMMA NAIDU 161. AR. CHIDAMBARAM 162. K.SUBBAIAH 163. N.PURUSHOTHAMAN 164. A.KARUNAKARAN 165. R.RAMADOSS 166. V.RAMAKRISHNAN 167. V.MEYAMMAI 168. PL. SUBRAMANIAN 169. SP. SHANMUGAM 170. AM. PR. AMMAYAPPAN 171. A.RAMANATHAN 172. AR. ARIYAPPAN 173. PREMA SESHADRI 174. T.DESIKAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 175. CHINTHAMANI KRISHNAN 176. PL RAJARAJESWARAN 177. N.RAJALAKSHMI 178. VR MUTHAIAH 179. M.V.MANICKAM 180. VE. AR. NAGAPPAN 181. RM.CHELLAPPAN 182. RM.RAMANATHAN 183. S.SUBRAMANIAN 184. M.KUMARAPPAN 185. K.LAKSHMINARASIMHA RAO 186. S.NACHIAPPAN 187. A.BALAKRISHNAMOORTHY 188. PC. CHANDRASEKAR RAO 189. EV. RAMAKRISHNA RAO 190. S.RAMASUBRAMNIAN 191. CT. CHIDAMBARAM 192. N.VISALAKSHI 193. N.KRISHNAPPAN 194. M.VEERAPPAN 195. SP. VISALAKSHMI 196. V.SUNDARESAN 197. VE. SATHYAMOORTHY 198. V.MURUGAPPAN 199. A.SATHYANARAYANA 200. V.RAMANATHAN 201. PL MEENAKSHISUNDARAM 202. V. ELUMALAI 203. M.SRINIVASAN 204. N.MEENAL 205. AR. SINGARAM 206. S.KRISHNAN 207. S.EDWIN XAVIER 208. M.NARAYANAN 209. MR.GOBALRAM 210. R.SUKUMAR 211. K.RAMACHANDRAN 212. SP. PARVATHY 213. K.SENTHILNATHAN 214. A.THIRUNAVUKARASU 215. M.SABARATHINAM 216. S.SELVAM 217. L.SURIYA KALA 218. M.ULAGAPPAN 219. AL.CHOCKALINGAM 220. R.RAVIKUMAR 221. K.S.RAMESH https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 222. C.HARIDOSS 223. V.NAGAPPAN 224. SANJEEV DHEER 225. VIRENDERSINGH 226. GEETHA DINGHRA 227. SNGEWETHA ARORO 228. MUKESH KAPOOR 229. PRADIP KUMAR GUPTA 230. S.VAIDYANATHAN 231. RM.VALLIAPPAN 232. RM.DHAKSHINAMOORTHY 233. N.GNANASAMBADAN 234. TS.MARAGADHAMBAL 235. R.MANOHARAN 236. R.SUNDARAM 237. T.CHOCKALINGAM 238. M.VAIRAVAN 239. S.KUMARAGURUBARAN 240. VR.VALLIAPPAN 241. L.MUTHU 242. AL.MEENAKSHISUNARAM 243. SM.SINGARAM 244. S.SAMBAMOORTHY 245. RM.MOHAN 246. RM.V.RAMANATHAN 247. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM 248. C.SANKARASUBRAMANIAN 249. PL.KASI 250. PL.MURUGAPPAN 251. A.SATTANATHAN RESPONDENTS/PETITIONERS WA.No.1437/08: 2. M.SEVUGAN CHETTY RESPONDENT/PETITIONER WA.No.1438/08: 2. S. ALAGPPAN 3. G. CHANDRASEKARAN 4. RAMKARUPPAIAH 5. S. BALASUBRAMANIAN 6. M. VASANTHA 7. PH. SHARMA 8. S. CHANDRAMOULI 9. K. ANNAMALAI 10. C. MANIVANNA 11. V. PALANIAPPAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 12. G. KRISHNAN 13. M. RAMASAMY 14. P. NAGENDRAN 15. NR.NARASIMHAN 16. R. SAMBASIVA REDDY 17. M. KARUPPAIAH 18. P. THARIGARAJ 19. SP.NAHCIAPPAN 20. R. MURALIDHARAN 21. K. SHANTHAKUMARI 22. K. VENKATACHALAM 23. RM.SUNDARAM 24. SV.SEVIYAPPAN 25. M. SIRNIVASAN 26. D. VENKATARAMAN 27. M. SELVARAJ 28. R. NAGARAJAN 29. AR.ARUNACHALAM 30. M. KAMESH 31. D. SHANMUGAVELU 32. V. PONNALAGAMMAI 33. AL.SAHAPPAN 34. V. ALAGAPPAN 35. PL.CHOCKALINGAM 36. S. KULANDAYAN 37. PL.MURUGAPPAN 38. KR.SUBRAMANIAN 39. MRS.ANJALI DATRE 40. GOUDA VIJALAKSHMI 41. N.NACHIAPPAN 42. RAMOLA BERNES 43. M.VEERABADRAN 44. V. GANAPATHYSUBRAMANIAN 45. R. RATHINAVELU 46. S. PARTHASARATHY 47. S. LAKSHMANAN 48. HR.KAVERI 49. KR RAMASAMY 50. K.ARUMUGAM 51. RM SETHURAMAN 52. V.MEENAL 53. AR RAMANATHAN 54. K.ABDUL JAFFAR 55. N.RAJENDRAN 56. YVS BAKARAN 57. M.NALLIYAPPAN 58. SP RAMASAMY https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 59. M.LAKSHMI NARAYANAN 60. VR.MUTHAIH 61. D.MANGALAM 62. G.SIVAPRAKASAM 63. JP SURENDRA SING 64. AN MEYAMMAI 65. A.SOLAYAPPAN 66. N.PALANIAPPAN 67. S.SUBRAMANIAN 68. V.SUNDARAMOORTHY 69. SM UMAYAL 70. LALIHA SURIYA MOORTHY 71. AR NATARAJAN 72. R.SUBRAMANIYAM 73. C.TAMILARASI 74. N.SOLACHI 75. T.SAROJA 76. S.PICHAIAMMAL 77. S.NACHIAPPAN 78. V.MANOHARAN 79. KR ALAGAPPAN 80. RM SUBRAMANIAN 81. CP JANAKI 82. A.DEVARAJAN 83. U.MURUGAN 84. K.VAGESAN 85. K.CHOCKALINGAM 86. A.RAMASAMY 87. MHD. ASHRAF ALI 88. V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN 89. M.THIRUNAVUKKARASU 90. V.PALANIAPPAN 91. S.PALANIAPPAN 92. V.RAMASUBRAMANIAM 93. RM SUBRAMANIAN 94. K.PALANIAPPAN 95. R.KRISHNAMOORTHY 96. M.LAKSHMIPATHY RAO 97. T.K.SRIDHARAN 98. AZAR AHMED BIJLEE 99. VIJAYARAGHAVAN 100. KARU NATARAJAN 101. RM.RAMU 102. G.PADMASINI 103. R.JAYACHANDRAN 104. V.S.CHANDRA 105. PL.KARUPPANCHETTY https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 106. KL.SUBRAMANIAN 107. AL.PALANIAPPAN 108. R.INDIRA 109. PL.GOVINDAN 110. SPN.NARAYANAN 111. P.SUNDARAMURTHY 112. M.RAMASAMY 113. V.SARAVANAN 114. M.PADMAVATHY 115. KR.CHINNAPICHAPPAN 116. RM.RUKKUMANI 117. S.GOBINDAN 118. AL.SOMASUNDARAM 119. A.SHOBALATHA DEVI 120. N.GIRIJAKUMARI 121. RM.LAKSHMANAN 122. SM.VEERAPPAN 123. V.SOBA RANI 124. T.SINGARAM 125. S.SUKUMAR 126. R.PANDITHURAI 127. B.ETHIRAJ 128. RM ALAGAPPAN 129. M.ALAMELU 130. K.JEYAKUMARI 131. KR.MUTHUKARUPPAN 132. E.SOUNDARAPANDIAN 133. P.THIYAGARAJAN 134. R.PARAKALAN 135. M.MOHAMED NAZIR 136. G.SESHADRI 137. M.VEERAPPAN 138. P.GANESAN 139. PL.MEYAPPAN 140. M.KUMAR 141. G.SOMASUNDARAM 142. G.NAGESWARA RAO 143. R.V.S.RANGAO RAO 144. S.MURUGESAN 145. SP SUBRAMANIAN 146. N.KARUPPAIAH 147. K.VISALAKSHI 148. PVS GANAPATHY RAO 149. V.SUBRAMANIAN 150. M.CHOCKALINGAM 151. S.SITHIVINAYAGAM 152.V.PALANIAPPAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 153. R.RAJESWARI 154. C.KARUNAKARAN 155. T.ULAGANATHAN 156. CH.SATHYANARAYANAN 157. REHA MALHOTRA 158. G.BULLIBABU 159. A.ARUNACHALAM 160. V.ALAGAPPAN 161. AR.RAJAMANI 162. K.ALAGAPAN 163. M.BLASUBRAMANIAN 164. K.DHAKSHINAMOORTHY 165. D.RAJAGOPALAN 166. S.SIVAKAMI NARAYANANAN 167. M.VENKATACHALAM 168. SP GOBALAKRISHNAN 169. A.NAGARAJAN 170. M.BALASUBRAMANIAN 171. M.KARUPPAIAH 172. P.PREMNATH 173. RM.RAJENDRAN 174. M.THIRUNAVUKKARASU 175. N.KARUPPAN CHETTY 176. N.NACHIAPPAN 177. K.SUBRAMANIAN 178. L.KANNAN 179. K.RAJAN 180. L.NARAYANAN 181. P.SUBRAMANIAN 182. A.RAJENDRAN 183. PVH SUNDARSANA RAO 184. N.PALANIAPPAN 185. A.R.NARAYANAN 186. S.VENKITRAMAN, TRICHY 187. S.VENKITARAMAN, MADURAI 188. N.VITALDASS BHATT 189. T.S.THIYAGARAJAN 190. A.JAYPAL 191. S.KARUPPAIAH 192. SM.DEIVANAI 193. T.KALYANI 194. TR.MANI 195. MR.THIYAGARAJAN 196. A.AYYASAMI 197. N.ARUNACHALAM 198. R.VIJAYARAGHAVAN 199. KR.NATARAJAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 200. AR.SUBBAIAH 201. L.PALANIAPPAN 202. A.KUMARAPPAN 203. N.ARUNACHALAM 204. P.MEENAKSHISUNDARAM 205. S.BALASUBRAMANIAN 206. KN.PRABHAKAR GUPTA 207. SP ARUNACHALAM 208. M.KANNAPPAN 209. RAJU VD 210. S.SUBRAMANIAN 211. P.NARANAMOORTHY 212. DV.DEVENDRA 213. R.NAGU 214. P.SABARATHINAM 215. M.RAJENDRAN 216. P.ABDUL GANI 217. R.BHANUMATHI 218. SP.RAMASAMY 219. V.KASTHURIENGAN 220. PL.VISWANATHAN 221. M.VALLIAMMAL 222. AL.MEENAL 223. N.THAVAMANI 224. PR.PANNA 225. SR.SHYAMALA 226. DWARAKA SHETTY 227. A.SUBRAMANIAN 228. CB.MEENAKUMARI 229. CT.ARUNACHALAM 230. AR.NATARJAN 231. A.KANNAPPAN 232. G.BASKARAN 233. PR.PL.PERIYAKARUPPAN 234. VD.LOGANATHAN 235. K.ALAGUSUNDARAM 236. PL.VISALAKSHI 237. KN.VENKATARAMANI 238. R.SUBBAIAH 239. VR.SEETHA 240. PL.PALANIYAPPAN 241. DEVENDRA PAI.M 242. AN.THANNERMALAI 243. MELAPPA E.CHIKKANARGUDI 244. V.SANKARANARAYANAN 245. S.RADHA 246. N.CHOCKALINGAM https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 247. S.SUKANYA 248. V.RAMASUBRAMANIYAN 249. R.RATHI 250. M.PALANIAPPAN 251. RM.LAKSHMANAN 252. S.CHANDRASEKARAN 253. M.MURUGAPPAN 254. H.VISWANATHAN 255. V.VISWANATHAN 256. R.SUBRAMANIYAN 257. N.THIYAGARAJAN 258. MEENAKSHI THIYAGARAJAN 259. P.SASIKALA DEVE NAVANEETHAM 260. V.KUMARAPAN 261. PRABHU SETHURAMAN.S 262. NATARAJAN.AR 263. S.RAMU 264. C.SUBRAMANIAM ..RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS WA.No.1439/08 : 2. THIRUVENEKARASU 3. L.LAKSHMANAN 4. K.MUTHA 5. SAVITHA TALWAR 6. K.R.KARUPPIAH 7. D.GNANANANDAM 8. YAGESH KANILAL PATNI 9. S.SRIDHARAN 10. GABAKABAHI B. PRIKH 11. NARESH R KANDR 12. AVANISH JITENDRA BELAI 13. DILIPKUMAR J TIRVILDI 14. V.VALLIAPPAN 15. S.S.BAMAGUDA 16. KANTILAL NARODAI 17. HAMISH AGEHDNRA DESAI 18. S.P.VENKATCHALAM 19. P.C.SONI 20. DAVSINHA 21. MAHENDRA KUMAR SRIVASTAVA 22. KUSUM SAWHNEY 23. BISWAJIT MAITRA 24. TARUN KUMAR DAS BISWAS 25. DILIIPKUMAR DEBNATH 26. PRITIMORY BANARJEE 27. MUTHIAH K https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 28. SATHIAMOORTHY RM 29. RAJKUMAR KESARA 30. ALAGAPPAN A.L 31. SAMIR KUMAR MITRA 32. ANNAMALAI PIL 33. MUTHUSAMY E 34. VISWANATHAN 35. SEKAR CHOUDRY 36. SOMESH CHAKRABARTHY 37. SRIKANTA V 38. SUBBIAH S.L 39. PAPANNA VM 40. SUBRAMANIAM P 41. SHYMALA GURURAJAN 42. SEKAR CHOUDRY SAKTHI DAS THAKUR 43. LAKSHMI MADHAVAN 44. RAJESH CHANDRA GUPTA 45. K.S.KANNAN 46. KARTIKAYA CHANDRA BISWAS 47. PRANAB ROY 48. P.SUBRAMANIAN 49. RANJAN DUTTA ..RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS WA.No.1440/08 : 2. KR CHANDRAN 3. A. MUTHUKKARUPPAN 4 T. KANNAN 5. AR ARUNACHALAM 6.BV CHANDRALEKA 7.A.VASANTHI 8.U.VAIRAVAN 9.JAGADESH N.GAJJAR 10.PANKAJKUMAR PANNALAL SHAH 11.S.SUBRAMANIA PILLAI 12.KR PALANI MUTHU 13.SANJIV S MAHULIKAR 14.PRAKASH R CHAUBAL 15.S.SENTHILSVEL 16.S.SOLACHI 17.M.K.MENON 18.R.NARESH KUMAR 19.MEYYAPPAN L 20.RAJAGOPALAN V 21.V.SUBRAMANIA PILLAI 22.HASMUKH D.PRAJAPATI 23.A. GEORGE SANTHANAKUMAR https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 24.MAMBHAI M SOLANKI 25.HITENDRA RAMLAL SHAH 26.AMIT BATTACHARYA 27.DIMAN GOSH 28.S.THIYAGARAJAN 29.SANJAY BASNDOPATHYAY 30.BHUDEV CHAUDHARI 31.ANURADHA SRIDHAR 32.BHOLA NATH SHAW 33.A.ANNAMALAI 34.TAPAS RR BASU 35.RABIN CHANDRA DAS 36.BIMAN JOSE 37.RM CHOCKALINGAM 38.NANI GOBAL NATH 39. SUSY THOMAS 40.SWAPAM KUMAR SABA 41.SAVITHRI SANKARAN 42.PADMAKUMAR 43.MEENA BHARAT BHATT 44.N.RAJAGOPALAN 45.HEMAXI P MEHTA 46.BHASKAR Z VYAPAR 47.HITESH H. BHAT 48.SATHI KANNAN 49.S.ARUNACHALAM 50.RATNAM VENITACHALAM 51.KK JAYANTHI 52.RAMESH NARAYAN NAYAK 53.ARJUN R GHANEKAR 54.BALWANT TRIMBAK PAITHNKAR 55.CHIMMOY BHATTACHARYA 56.V.MUTHAIAH 57.E.MOHAN 58.DEEPAK R RENGANEKAR 59.HEMANT KATA 60.LATHA SUNDARRAJAN 61.K.SRIRAMAN 62.KODURI NAGARAJA RAO 63.P.J.BASTIAN 64.N.USHA KAMAKSHI 65.RAM NARESI SHARMA 66.V.RAMACHANDRAN 67.M.VEERAMANI 68.S.PRADHAP ..RESPONDENTS/PETITIONERS IN WP.NO.1421/2004 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ WA.No.1441 of 2008 : 2.M.JEYAPAL 3.JANAK KUMAR AJITBHAI SHAH 4.DEEPAK JYANTILAL SHAH 5.NEELAM BAREJA 6.DEBJANI BASU 7.KKABRI MAJUMDAR 8.ARCHANA KANUNGO 9.BHARAJI BOSE 10.MAILRAYEE BANJERJEE 11.KRISHNAKALI MITRA 12.TAPTI SHINHA 13.SAMIT KUMAR BASU 14.BANI SEN 15.M.P.MADAN MOHAN 16.RINA BHATTACHARYA 17.AMAR CHAKRABORTHY 18.SUIGDHAMITRA 19.SANAT KHNA 20.N.ANANDAN 21.KRISHNA CHANDRA BATACHARAYA 22.ASHOK KUMAR GUHA 23.NIRMAL BATTACHARYA 24.GUTAM LAHA 25.V.RAVINDRAN NAIR 26.V.HARIKUMAR 27.FIROZ SHAH ..RESPONDENTS/PETITIONERS IN WP.NO.8809/2004 WA.No.1442 of 2008 : 2.A.KALYANI 3.R M CHIDAMBARAM 4.M.M.ELANGO 5.N.NARAYANAN 6.D.SRINIVAS 7.R.SUNDARAM 8.RENU BALA BIBNDLISH 9.NIRMAL KUMNAR 10.R.SUKUMAR 11.K.R.SIVAGAMI 12.K A M N PARMILARANI 13.B S SAROJA 14.S.VENUGOPAL 15.R.VALLIAPPAN 16.K.HARIBABU 17.R.BALRAJ https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 18.NILIMA PRADEEP BHISE 19.B.SARAVANAN 20.PETNAKOLI NAGAAJ 21.K.R.SRIMATHEE 22.THANGAMMA MATHIEW 23.S.KALIYAPERUMAL 24.R.BHANUMATHY 25.G.MANGALAM 26.S.RAJA ELAYAKUMAR 27.S.PRITHIVIRAJ 28.T.GURUMURTHY 29.K.SHYAM SUNDAR 30.M.UMAYAL 31.K.PARAMASIVAM 32.A.SUJATHA 33.DEBASISH MULLICK 34.K.NAGAMANI 35.D.SAMSON 36.K.SEKAR 37.MR NARAYANAN 38.L. M NAGAPPAN 39.K.WILSON 40.S.SOMASUNDARAM 41.DEIVAKADATCHAM ..RESPONDENTS/PETITIONERS IN WP.NO.11180/2004 W.A. No.1435 of 2008 to 1442/2008 filed against the order dated 26th Nov., 2008, passed by learned single Judge in W.P. No.32502 of 2003, 36782, 37150, 37197, 37739, 36764/03 & 1421, 8809 & 11180/04. WP.32502/03 : Writ of Mandamus directing the 2nd and 3rd respondents to pay pension according to the regulation of pension scheme in view of Rule 2(za), 2(zca), 35(i) and 35(ii) of Bank of Madura Employees Pension Regulations, 1995. WP.36782/03, 37197/03, 37739/03, 1421/04, 8809/04 & 1180/04 : Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent Bank to pay pension as per pension Regulation 1995. WP.37150/03 : Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent Bank to consider the application dated 29.08.2003 filed by the petitioner to sanction the pension as per the Scheme viz., Bank of Madura Pension Regulations 1995. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ For Appellants : Mr. A.L.Somayaji, SC, for Mr. R.Sankaranarayanan WA.1435 TO 1442 OF 2008 MP.NO.1 OF 2008 (8 MPs.) For Appellant Mr.A.L.Somayaji, Senior Counsel M/s. R.Sankaranarayanan - in all WA's. For Respondents Mr.A.S.Chakravarthy - R1 - in all WA's Mr.T.R.Rajagopalan, Senior Counsel for Mr.L.J.Krishnamurthy - R2 - in all WA's RR3, 5 to 21 - in WA.1435/08 RR3 to 8, 10 to 19, 21 to 68, 70,71, 73 to 103, 105 to 129, 130 to 134, 135, 136, 138 to 155, 157 to 170, 172 to 234, 236 to 248, 250 to 251 - in WA.1436/08 RR3 to 44, 47 to 69, 71 to 77, 79 to 82, 84 to 87, 89 to 96, 98 to 109, 111, 113 to 117, 119 to 124, 126, 127, 129 to 137, 139 to 156, 158 to 165, 166 to 170, 172 to 178, 180 to 188, 172 to 178, 180 to 188, 190 to 213, 216 to 220, 222 to 229, 231, 233 to 236, 238, 239, 241 to 248, 250 to 253, 255 to 261, 263 and 264 - in WA.1438/08. RR3 to 7, 9 to 11, 13, 14, 18 to 28, 31 to 41, 43 to 49 - in WA.1439/08. RR3, 4,6,8,10,11,13 to 17, 19 to 29, 31 to 35, 37, 39, 41 to 48, 50 to 56, 60 to 62, 65, 66 & 68 - in WA.1440/08. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ Mr.D.Murthy for RR 8, 16, 29 - in WA.1436/08 Mr.E.J.Ayyappan for RR 72, 126, 208 - in WA.1437/08. The Following Respondents died R4 - in WA.1435/08 RR11, 78, 88, 110, 179,214,221, 249 and 251 - in WA.1438/08 R30 - in WA.1439/08 R40 - in WA.1440/08 RR17 & 24 - in WA.1441/08. For Respondents : Mr. A.S.Chakravarthy for R-1 in all WAs Mr. T.R.Rajagopalan, SC, for Mr. L.J.Krishnamurthy R2 in all WAs Mr. D.Murthy for RR-8, 16 & 29 in WA 1436/08 Mr. E.J.Ayyappan for R7, 126, 208 in W.A. No.1437/08 COMMON JUDGMENT S.J.MUKHOPADHAYA, J. The writ petitions were preferred by the contesting respondents for direction on the appellant, ICICI Bank (hereinafter referred to as the 'Bank') to pay pension according to the Pension Scheme in view of Rule 2 (ze), 2 (zea), 35 (i) and 35 (ii) of the Bank of Madura Employees Pension Regulations, 1995. The writ petition was opposed by the appellant-Bank, apart from merit, on the ground of its maintainability against private bank. On similar question, against the same Bank, an unreported judgment in W.A. No.2245/02 dated 4th Jan., 2008, was referred, but learned single Judge having ignored the said judgment and having allowed the writ petitions, the present appeals have been preferred by the Bank. 2. The contesting respondents/writ petitioners were employees in the Bank of Madura (hereinafter referred to as 'Madura Bank') and https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ served for more than twenty years in various branches of the Madura Bank. The said Madura Bank framed the Pension scheme in question on 8th Sept., 1994. The respondent petitioners sought for voluntary retirement and after their retirement, the Madura Bank merged with ICICI Bank on 10th March, 2001. The erstwhile employees of Madura Bank, who opted for pension under the scheme were paid pension, but the contesting respondents/writ petitioners having not opted for pension under the scheme, they were not provided with pension. They were provided with contributory provident fund. 3. According to learned senior counsel for the Bank, apart from the question of maintainability of a writ petition against a private bank, even on merit, the respondents/writ petitioners were not entitled for benefit of pension under the Bank of Madura Employees Pension Regulation, 1994. The following facts and regulations were brought to the notice of the Court :- Regulation 2 (ze) defines 'VRS' as quoted hereunder :- “ze) 'V.R.S.' means Bank of Madura Employees' Voluntary Retirement Scheme enclosed to the circular CO.STF:39/94-95 dated July 21, 1994, or any other specific scheme that may be implemented in future bringing such scheme under the definition of this regulation. The employees who have completed 20 years of service in the bank and who have retired subsequent to the expiry of the scheme mentioned in the Circular CO:GM:CIR:2/93-94 dated May 20, 1993, and who were extended the additional benefits in addition to the normal retirement benefits shall be deemed and considered to have retired under V.R.S.” Section 3 stipulates application of regulation to certain types of employees, relevant portion of which are quoted hereunder :- “3. Application :- These regulations shall apply to employees who, - (1) (a) were in the service of the Bank on or after the 1st day of January, 1986, but had retired before the 1st day of November, 1993; and (b) exercise an option in writing within one hundred and twenty days from the notified date to become member of the Fund; and (c) refund within sixty days from the date of communication from the Bank to this effect, the entire amount of the Bank's contribution to the Provident Fund including interest accrued thereon together with a further simple interest at the rate of six per cent per annum on the said amount from the date of settlement of the Provident Fund account till the date of refund of the aforesaid https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ amount to the Bank; or (2) (a) have retired on or after the 1st day of November, 1993 but before the notified date; and (b) exercise an option in writing within one hundred and twenty days from the notified date to become member of the Fund; and (c) refund within sixty days from the date of communication from the Bank to this effect, the entire amount of the Bank's contribution to the Provident Fund and interest accrued thereon together with a further simple interest at the rate of six per cent per annum on the said amount from the date of settlement of the Provident Fund Account till the date of refund of the aforesaid amount to the Bank; or (3) (a) are in the service of the Bank before the notified date and continue to be in the service of the Bank on or after the notified date; and (b) exercise an option in writing within one hundred and twenty days from the notified date to become member of the Fund; and (c) authorise the trust of the Provident Fund of the Bank to transfer the entire contribution of the Bank alongwith the interest accrued thereon to the credit of the fund constituted for the purpose under regulation 5.” 4. So far as the question of giving option by the employees is concerned, the Bank of Madura issued the first circular on 25th Jan., 1995, enclosing a copy of pension regulation giving opportunity to employees covered under the regulation to exercise their option for pension by 25th July, 1995. In the said circular, it was made clear that employees, who opted for pension shall not be entitled to the Bank's contribution to the provident fund w.e.f. 1st Nov., 1993 as the Bank's contribution to provident fund would be contribution to the pension fund. Thus, the proposed pension regulation meant that while a provident fund optee would continue to receive matching contribution from the bank in his provident fund, a pension optee would get only his contribution of his provident fund and the amount equal to the bank's contribution to provident fund would be credited to the pension fund. Though a number of employees applied pursuant to the circular dated 25th Jan., 1995, admittedly, the contesting respondents/writ petitioners did not choose to apply nor opted for pension scheme and, thereby, continued with the contributory provident fund scheme. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ Subsequently, the 2nd option was given on 22nd July, 1995. Time was extended to opt for pension scheme upto 25th Oct., 1995. Meanwhile, the pension regulations underwent change, which were incorporated in the scheme. Even thereafter, the contesting respondents/writ petitioners did not choose to opt for the pension scheme, but continued to remain under the contributory provident fund scheme. Third and final option was given by Madura Bank on 1st Feb., 1996. The Bank notified the pension regulations and issued circular highlighting the modification to the original pension scheme and again asked the employees, who are desirous, to submit application opting for pension scheme and time was granted upto 30th Feb., 1996. This time also, the contesting respondents/writ petitioners did not choose to opt for pension. The Madura Bank merged with ICICI Bank on 1st March, 2001. In the meantime, the contesting respondents/writ petitioners opted for VRS and were allowed to voluntarily retire from service. 5. In the aforesaid background, it was contended on behalf of the appellant-Bank that even on merit the respondents/writ petitioners were not entitled for pension and learned senior counsel for the contesting respondents did not dispute the facts and provisions of law as noticed above. 6. In fact, similar question fell for consideration before a Division Bench of this Court in ICICI Bank Ltd. - Vs – Lakshminarayanan - W.A. No.2245/02decided on 4th Jan., 2008. In the said case, the Division Bench noticed various decisions, including the decision in Binny Ltd. - Vs – Sadasivan 2005 (6) SCC 657, wherein the Supreme Court observed that a writ of mandamus for remedy under Article 226 is pre-eminently a “public law remedy” and is not generally available as a remedy against private wrongs. However, the Supreme Court observed that it may be used to do justice when there is a wrongful exercise of power or refusal to perform a statutory duty. The decision of the Supreme Court in Praga Tools Corporation – Vs – C.V. Imanual AIR 1969 SC 1306 :: 1969 (1) SCC 585 was also noticed, wherein the Supreme Court held that the condition precedent for issuance of mandamus is that there is one claiming it a legal right to the performance of a legal duty by one against whom it is sought. An order of mandamus is, in form, a command directed to a person, corporation or an inferior tribunal requiring him or them to do a particular thing therein specified, which appertains to his or their office and is in the nature of public duty. In the said case, having noticed the company being not a statutory body and one incorporated under the Companies Act and there was neither a statutory nor a public duty imposed on it by statute in respect of which enforcement https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ could be sought by means of a mandamus, the Supreme Court held that no writ petition for mandamus could lie against the company. The judgment of the Supreme Court in Federal Bank Ltd. - Vs – Sagar Thomas 2003 (10) SCC 733 was also noticed, wherein the Supreme Court observed that a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India may be maintained against a private body discharging public duty or positive obligation of public nature. Taking into consideration the aforesaid decisions, the VRS of Madura Bank, Madura Bank Pension Regulations and that the said Madura Bank merged with ICICI Bank, the Division Bench held that the writ petition claiming pension under the pension regulations against ICICI Bank was not maintainable. 7. The aforesaid judgment was brought to the notice of learned single Judge, but single Judge simply ignored the Division Bench judgment of this Court in ICICI Bank Ltd. (supra). Giving reference to one or other judgment of Supreme Court that pension is not a bounty and the authority is duty bound to pay the same, held that the writ was maintainable and ordered to pay pension. Learned single Judge failed to notice the relevant fact that the Bank is not only a private body, but the regulation framed by Madura Bank is not a statutory regulation nor any public duty is cast on the Bank to pay pension. Learned single Judge also failed to notice that there was no positive public obligation for the Bank to pay