Case: The State of Maharashtra &amp; Anr Vs. Bhagwan &amp; Ors

2. That Water and Land Management Institute (hereinafter referred to as WALMI) is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, which has its own Memorandum of Association. WALMI is being administered by its Governing Council. WALMI is an autonomous institution governed by its own Rules and Regulations. WALMI came into existence in the year 1980 under the World Bank Project of the Irrigation Department. The funds and properties of the Society and their entire management vests in the Governing Council. The main objects for which the Society has been formed are as under:-(a) With a view to promoting advancement of science and acquisition of scientific knowledge to provide instructions and training in all branches of science both theoretical and applied and in particular in Water Management and Land Development for Irrigation and agriculture.(b) To establish an institution for imparting instructions and training and conducting research in Water Management and Land Development for irrigation and agriculture.(c) To prescribe courses for instruction and training in Water Management and Land Development for irrigation and agriculture and hold examinations and grant certificates, diplomas etc.(d) To seek affiliation of the said institute with Universities and other appropriate academic bodies both in India and abroad and to obtain recognition of the said courses conducted at the said institute and for the said examinations conducted by the Institute and diplomas, certificates, etc., granted by the Institute.(e) To provide consultancy service to the Government Local Bodies and other organisations in water management and land development for irrigation and agriculture.(f) To undertake research and conduct experiments in various aspects of water management and land development arid to collaborate with other similar organisations for research and development.(g) To send within the country and abroad for specialised training in Water Management and Land Development for irrigation and agriculture person including members of staff of the said Institute and bear and pay the costs of such training.(h) To start, conduct, print, publish and exhibit any magazines, periodicals, newspapers, books, pamphlets or posters that may be considered desirable for the promotion of the objects of the Society.(i) To invest and deal with the funds of the Society.(j) To make rules and bye-laws for the conduct of the affairs of the society and Institute and from time to time add, to amend, vary or rescind them.(k) Make donations to such persons or institutions whether of cash or any other assets, as may be, that are directly or indirectly conducive to any of the Societys objects, or otherwise expedient and in particular, to remunerate any person or corporations introducing, or assisting the Society.(l) establish and support or aid the establishment of, and support associations, institutions, societies, funds, trusts and conveniences for the benefit of the employees of ex-employees or persons having connections of such person and in particular friendly or other benefit of societies and to grant pension, allowances, gratuities, either by way of annual payments, or by way of lump sum and to make payments towards insurance to form and contribute to provident and benefit funds to or for such persons.(m) Generally to do and execute all such other acts, matters and things as are incidental or conductive to or necessary for attainment of the above objects or any of them.2.1 The Governing Council in its meeting held on 11.08.1980 framed the WALMI Establishment Rules, 1980, which provided the service conditions including certain allowances to be paid to its employees. It was provided in the said Rules that the Service Rules made by the Government of Maharashtra for its employees (as may be amended/modified from time to time) shall apply to the employees of the Institute unless they are repugnant to the Rules made or may be made by the Institute. It is specifically provided that Government Rules for Pension, Provident Fund and Gratuity shall not, however, apply. The Governing Council in its 41st meeting held on 31.01.1995 reiterated that the Governing Council has made the Establishment / Service Rules of the Government of Maharashtra applicable to WALMI except the Rules for Pension, Provident Fund and Gratuity. It was also mentioned that the Contributory Provident Fund Rules framed by WALMI have been made applicable. Grant of pensionary benefits to the employees of the Grant- in-aid Institutes/Corporation etc. came to be discussed in the meeting of the Cabinet Ministers held on 30.01.1997. After due deliberation, the Cabinet approved the proposal to the effect that no pensionary benefits should be granted to the employees working in the Institute receiving Grant-in-aid, Corporations etc.2.2 But thereafter, the Governing Council of WALMI in its 44th meeting held on 13.08.1997 resolved to send proposal to the Government to grant pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI. The then Director General of WALMI issued a communication dated 12.10.2000 to the Secretary, Irrigation Department and gave his opinion in affirmative for grant of pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI. But the Government of Maharashtra through its Finance Department issued a resolution dated 31.10.2005 and introduced a new Contributory Pension Scheme for the Government servants who are recruited on or after 01.11.2005 in the State Government service. On 08.11.2005, the State Government through its Finance Department issued another resolution and resolved that the employees serving in Grant-in-aid Institutes, Mandals, Corporations etc. are not entitled for grant of pensionary benefits and the Pension Rules shall not be made applicable to them.2.3 Again, the Director General of WALMI issued a communication dated 06.02.2008 to the Secretary, Irrigation Department and prayed for grant of pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI. By communication dated 12.07.2012, the Finance Department of the State Government again reiterated that the employees of WALMI are not entitled for pensionary benefits and the Contributory Provident Fund shall not be applicable to them.2.4 Hence some of the employees of WALMI filed a Writ Petition No.1507 of 2012 before the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Aurangabad Bench. The High Court directed the State to take a decision on the proposal dated 06.02.2008 within a period of six months. Vide communication dated 05.03.2013, the State Government informed that the request for grant of pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI has been rejected.2.5 Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the communication dated 05.03.2013, rejecting the proposal/request for grant of pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI, the employees/ex-employees of WALMI preferred the present writ petitions before the High Court and prayed to direct the State Government to grant pensionary benefits, which are available to the State Government employees, also to the employees of WALMI.2.6 That by the impugned common judgment and order, the High Court has allowed the writ petitions and has quashed and set aside the communication dated 05.03.2013 of the State Government refusing to extend the pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI and consequently has directed to extend pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI, with arrears w.e.f. 06.05.2013. While allowing the writ petitions, the High Court has observed that the amount available with WALMI and deposited with E.P.F. towards the employees contribution itself is sufficient to meet the financial liability of the pensionary benefits to employees and that there does not appear to be any reasonable basis for the State Government to refuse to extend the benefit of pension to the retired employees of WALMI. The High Court has also further observed that as the WALMI institute essentially performs educational and research activities and receives 100% grant from the State Government, that the service conditions of employees are regulated by Maharashtra Civil Services Rules and that the employees have been from time to time extended the benefits of wage, pay scale revision on par with the Government employees. That the employees are being paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the State Government and hence there is no justification to treat the employees of the WALMI differently than that of the State Government employees. Observing so, the High Court has observed and held that the denial of pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI would be discriminatory and violative of the principle of equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution of India.2.7 Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned common judgment and order passed by the High Court directing the State to extend the pensionary benefits to the employees of the WALMI, the State of Maharashtra through the Secretary, Irrigation Department and Finance Department have preferred the present appeals.

Reasoning:
8. By the impugned common judgment and order, the High Court has directed the State to extend the retirement benefits to the employees of WALMI mainly on the following grounds:-(i) that the primary functions of WALMI are educational, the purpose of establishing the Institute is to impart training to engineers and farmers of Maharashtra State and to provide expert advice to the Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra relating irrigation management;(ii) that the Institute receives 100% grant from the Government since 1993;(iii) that the posts created on the establishment are computed amongst the sanctioned posts of the Water Resources Department; the control in respect of the management and the governance rest with high-ranking officers, i.e., Secretaries of the Government Department;(iv) the Regulations applicable to the Government employees relating to disciplinary matters as well as withdrawal of allowances like medical allowance, leave travel allowance, regulations relating to grant of leave so also regulations relating to disciplinary matters are uniform as in case of Government employees;(v) the Maharashtra Civil Services Rules are applicable to the Government employees;(vi) that the employees of WALMI have been extended the benefit of time bound promotional scale as in case of Government employees;(vii) that the employees of WALMI have also received the benefit of wage, pay scale revision made applicable to the Government employees;(viii) that for all practicable purposes, the employees of WALMI are treated on par with the Government employees; the salary and allowances payable to the employees of WALMI are being paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the State; and(ix) the amount available with WALMI and deposited with E.P.F. towards the employees contribution itself is sufficient to meet the financial liability of the pensionary benefits to employees.8.1 On the aforesaid grounds, the High Court has ultimately observed and held that there does not appear to be any reasonable basis for the State to refuse to extend the benefit of pension to the retired employees of WALMI.9. Having heard the learned counsel appearing for the respective parties, we are of the opinion that none of the aforesaid grounds justify extension of the pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI.9.2 It is required to be noted that as such the Government vide G.R. dated 08.11.2005 specifically took a policy decision that the employees of aided institutes, boards, corporations, who are not governed by Maharashtra Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1982, shall not be made applicable to such institutions. Even the proposal made by the then Director of WALMI to extend the pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI came to be rejected by the State Government. Neither the G.R. dated 08.11.2005 nor the decision of the State Government refusing to extend the pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI are challenged.10.2 In the case of T.M. Sampath and Ors. Vs. Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Ors. (supra), the employees of National Water Development Agency (NWDA), an autonomous body under the aegis and control of Ministry of Water Resources claimed the pensionary benefits on par with the Central Government employees. Refusing to allow such pensionary benefits to the employees of NWDA on par with the Central Government employees, in paragraphs 16 and 17, it was observed and held as under:-16. On the issue of parity between the employees of NWDA and Central Government employees, even if it is assumed that the 1982 Rules did not exist or were not applicable on the date of the OM i.e. 1-5-1987, the relevant date of parity, the principle of parity cannot be applicable to the employees of NWDA. NWDA cannot be treated as an instrumentality of the State under Article 12 of the Constitution merely on the basis that its funds are granted by the Central Government. In Zee Telefilms Ltd. v. Union of India [(2005) 4 SCC 649] , it was held by this Court that the autonomous bodies having some nexus with the Government by itself would not bring them within the sweep of the expression State and each case must be determined on its own merits. Thus, the plea of the employees of NWDA to be treated on a par with their counterparts in the Central Government under sub-rule (6)(iv) of Rule 209 of the General Financial Rules, merely on the basis of funding is not applicable.17. Even if it is presumed that NWDA is State under Article 12 of the Constitution, the appellants have failed to prove that they are on a par with their counterparts, with whom they claim parity. As held by this Court in UT, Chandigarh v. Krishan Bhandari [(1996) 11 SCC 348] , the claim to equality can be claimed when there is discrimination by the State between two persons who are similarly situated. The said discrimination cannot be invoked in cases where discrimination sought to be shown is between acts of two different authorities functioning as State under Article 12. Thus, the employees of NWDA cannot be said to be Central Government employees as stated in the OM for its applicability.As per the law laid down by this Court in a catena of decisions, the employees of the autonomous bodies cannot claim, as a matter of right, the same service benefits on par with the Government employees. Merely because such autonomous bodies might have adopted the Government Service Rules and/or in the Governing Council there may be a representative of the Government and/or merely because such institution is funded by the State/Central Government, employees of such autonomous bodies cannot, as a matter of right, claim parity with the State/Central Government employees. This is more particularly, when the employees of such autonomous bodies are governed by their own Service Rules and service conditions. The State Government and the Autonomous Board/Body cannot be put on par.10.4 As per the settled proposition of law, the Court should refrain from interfering with the policy decision, which might have a cascading effect and having financial implications. Whether to grant certain benefits to the employees or not should be left to the expert body and undertakings and the Court cannot interfere lightly. Granting of certain benefits may result in a cascading effect having adverse financial consequences.10.5 In the present case, WALMI being an autonomous body, registered under the Societies Registration Act, the employees of WALMI are governed by their own Service Rules and conditions, which specifically do not provide for any pensionary benefits; the Governing Council of WALMI has adopted the Maharashtra Civil Services Rules except the Pension Rules. Therefore, as such a conscious policy decision has been taken not to adopt the Pension Rules applicable to the State Government employees; that the State Government has taken such a policy decision in the year 2005 not to extend the pensionary benefits to the employees of the aided institutes, boards, corporations etc.; and the proposal of the then Director of WALMI to extend the pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI has been specifically turned down by the State Government. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the High Court is not justified in directing the State to extend the pensionary benefits to the employees of WALMI, which is an independent autonomous entity.10.6 The observations made by the High court that as the salary and allowances payable to the employees of WALMI are being paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the State and/or that the WALMI is getting grant from the Government are all irrelevant considerations, so far as extending the pensionary benefits to its employees is concerned. WALMI has to run its administration from its own financial resources. WALMI has no financial powers of imposing any tax like a State and/or the Central Government and WALMI has to depend upon the grants to be made by the State Government.10.7 Now, so far as the observations made by the High Court that the amount available with WALMI and deposited with E.P.F. towards the employees contribution itself is sufficient to meet the financial liability of the pensionary benefits to the employees and, therefore, there is no justification and/or reasonable basis for the State Government to refuse to extend the benefit of pension to the retired employees of WALMI is concerned, it is to be noted that merely because WALMI has a fund with itself, it cannot be a ground to extend the pensionary benefits. Grant of pensionary benefits is not a one-time payment. Grant of pensionary benefits is a recurring monthly expenditure and there is a continuous liability in future towards the pensionary benefits. Therefore, merely because at one point of time, WALMI might have certain funds does not mean that for all times to come, it can bear such burden of paying pension to all its employees. In any case, it is ultimately for the State Government and the Society (WALMI) to take their own policy decision whether to extend the pensionary benefits to its employees or not. The interference by the Judiciary in such a policy decision having financial implications and/or having a cascading effect is not at all warranted and justified.