Seeking benefits over and above VRS a misadventure – Supreme Court of India
New Delhi : Dated 25″ September, 2019 : In a very significant judgement pronounced in IFCI Ltd. Vs Sanjay Behari & Others case (C.A.No.6995/2019) on September 17, 2019, Hon’ble Supreme Court of India held that any Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) is a package by itself and the employees retired under the scheme cannot claim any benefits beyond what has been envisaged in the VRS. The Hon’ble Supreme Court was dealing with an appeal filed by IFCI Ltd, A Govt. of India Undertaking against a Judgement of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi Bench.
Some of the ex- employees of IFCI, who had opted for retirement under Voluntary Retirement Scheme floated by IFCI Ltd. in the year 2008, had claimed revision of their pension by referring the pay scale revision implemented by IFCI. Hon’ble Supreme Court rejected the claim principally on the ground that VRS is a package by itself and any subsequent ciaim cannot be entertained.
Earlier VRS-2008 optees had filed a petition in the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in the year2016 claiming for revision of Pension. The learned single judge had dismissed the Petition in February, 2017. VRS-2008 optees then filed Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) in the Hon’ble High Court which was allowed by the Hon’ble High Court bench vide its judgement dated 17/01/2019. Aggrieved by the Order of Hon’ble High Court, IFCI filed Civil Appeal in Hon‘ble Supreme Court of India.
The judgement could prove to be a landmark as it has discussed various aspects earlier court judgements, VRS schemes and internal policy documents of IFCI for arriving at conclusion. The judgement has clearly set out legal position pertaining to Voluntary Retirement Schemes
Sd/-
(Samik Dasgupta)
General Manager (CCD)
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