V. B. RAJU v. GUJARAT

797 A ,, ~ ###### c D E F G H HELP.: ( 1) The 1956-amendment of Regulation 561 does not infringe the provLS1ons of. Arts. 14 and 16. It makes no distinction, in the matter of payment of pension ~o members of the Indian Civil Service retiring after 12th June. 1~56, LIT~~tiv~ of the fa::t thatt they are citi:zens of India or are of non-Indian domicile, 1£ thev draw their pension in India. On or after that date ~l members of !he fndian Civil Service having their residenco in India on ret1rement, are entitled to their annuity only in India and in rupees alone. ' [7938]' V. B. RAJU AND ORS. _v._ STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS. _August_ 22, 1974 [A. N. RAY, C.J., M. H. BEG, A. ALAG!R!SWAMI, P. K. GOSWAMI, R. S. SARKARIA, JJ.] _Constitution_ _of_ _India._ 1950 _Art._ 312A, _introduced bv the Constitutio11_ _(Twenty Eighth) Amend1ne11t_ _Act,_ 1972, _and the Former Secretary_ _of State Sef'-_ _l'icc ()J[icers_ _(Conditions_ _of_ _Service) Act,_ 1972. _Ss._ 7 _and_ 8--~tmendments _to_ _Regulations_ 561 _and_ 983 _of_ _Civil Service_ _Regulations-Validity._ Under Regulation 561 of the Civil Serviw ReguJations a mem_ber of the Indian Civil Service, who joined after 1921, was entitled on retirement to an annuity of Rs. 10666-10-8 subject to a minimum of £ 1000. Regulation 983 provided that such Officers were entitled to payment of annuity, at the option of the recipient, either in rupees conVerted into sterling at a rate of ex;hange declared to exist on the date on which payment fell due, or. at the fixed minimum sterling. If payment was taken in India it would be either in rupees or at the fixed sterling minimum converted into rupees at the rate of exchange declared to 'exist on the due date. In 1928, the Secretary of State for fndia laid down the rate of exchange at 1 sh-6 ct to a rupee and this rate of exchange continued upto the date of_ transfer of power to India, namely, 15th Augu·st, 1947. On 12th June, 1956, Regu~ lation 561 was amended by the President under Art. 309 of the Constitution. As a result of the amendment the Indian members of the Indian Civil Service,. on retirement, were entitled to an annuity of Rs. 13,333.33 p paYable in India in rupees only, which was equivalent to £ 1000, converted into rupees at the rate of 1 sh-6 d to a rupee. Article 312-A was introduced by the Comiti.tution (Twenty Eighth .Amendment) Act, 1972, and it conferred power on Parliament to make a law to vary or revoke, whether prospectively or retros pectively, the conditions of servicv as respects pension of persons who, having been appointed by the Secretary of State to a civil service of the Crown in India before the commencement of the Constitution. retired or otherWise ceased to be in service at any time before the co1nn1encement of that Amendment Act; Parlian1ent passed the Former Secretary of State Service Officers (Conditions of Service) Act, 1972, and it came into force on 1st October, 1972. Section 7 of the Act provided that all members of the Indian Civil Service who joined the servic~ after 1921 were entitled to an annuity of Rs. 13,333.33 P subject to certain reductions. Section 8 provided that no such officer shall be entitled or be deen1ed ever to have been entitled to claim, (a) pension in sterling; or (b) that his pension shall be paid outside India; or (c) where his pension was expressed in sterling or a fixed sterling minimum was applicable in respect of the pension payable to him, that his pension shall be computed in the rupee equivalent of the amount fixed in sterling at a rate of exchange exceeding- the rate of Rs. 13,333.33 of £ 1000 sterling, Some members, who had joined· the Jnd!an Civil Service after 1921 and residing: in India, contended that the Regulations could not he amended by the Act, on the ground that it was their basic right to be paid annuity by converting £ 1000 into Indian currency at the official rat~ of exchange. Reiectini?: the contentions, 798 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1975] 1 S.C.R. **(2)** **The pension to which these members,** **were** **entitled on** **15th** **August,** 1947, has not been altered. [793 HJ **A** (3) **All that has happened as a** **resu.lt** **of** **the. 1972-Act** **is** **to lay down** **that the annuitants** **are** **not entitled to claim payment** **of** **pension** **in** **sterling** **-0r** **outside India or by** **convertinJ!** **£** **1000 at the rate** **of** **exchange exceeding** **rhe** **rate** **of** **exchange** **of** **Rupees thirteen** **and** **one** **third** **to the pound sterling.** **Indian currency is the legal tender and there is no constitutional vice** **in** **B** **fixing the rate** **of** **exchange** **and** **mode** **of** **payment by legislation.** **There** **are** **neither basic rights nor merits** **in** **the·** **alleged claim. (E-G]** CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal Nos. 141 of 1971 and 268 of 1972. (Appeals from the Judgments & Orders dated the 8th April 1970 ###### -Of the Gujarat High Court in S.C.A. Nos. 1of1968 and 1273 of 1967 c respectively). AND _Civil Appeals Nos._ 2467 & 2468 _of_ 1972. (Appeals from the Judgments & Orders d•ated the 20th January, 1972 of the Delhi High Court in LP.As Nos. 65-66, and 74 of 1970 **D** respectively). WITH _Writ Petitions Nos._ 12 _of_ 1971, 17 & 471-474 _of_ 1972 Petitions Under Article 32 of the Constitution) ##### • ~ \ Iii: j.· S. _K. Bisaria,_ for the appellant Ou CA. No. 147 of 71) & petitioners (In W.P. No. 17 /1972) _I._ _M._ _Lal_ and _E._ C. _Aggarwala,_ for the Petiticroer (In WPS Nos. 12, 471-474/72) & Appellant (In CAs. Nos. 2467 & 2468/1972) _B._ _Sen,_ (excepting in to P. No. 471/72) R _M._ _Mehta_ and _R. N._ _Sachthey_ for the appellant (In CA. No. 268/72) and Respondents Nos. 1-4 (In CA. No. 147/1971), Respondent No. 1 (In W.P. No. 12, 17, 471-474/1972 and CA. Nos. 2467-2468/72). _G._ S. _Chatterjee,_ for the respondent No. 2 (In W. P. No. 12/1971) S. _N. Choudhry,_ for the respondent No. 3 (In W.P. No. 12/1971) _0. P._ _Rana,_ for the respondent No. 2 (In CA. No. 2467-68/1972) J. _P._ _Goyal,_ for the respondent (In CA. N0. 268 of 1972) _The Intervener (R._ _P._ _Kapur,)_ appeared _in_ _p•rson_ (Not present) - {In W. P. No. 12/71) The Judgment by the Court was delivered by RAY, C.J.-The only question which falls for determination in these petitions and appeal is whether Regulations 561 and 983 of the Civil Service Regulations could be amended by the Former Secretary of State, Service Officers (Conditions of Service) Act, 1972. E F G H # . , ,,;., #### ~ " ##, B ###### c D E F V. B. RAJU _v._ GUJARAT _(Ray,_ C. _J.)_ 799 The l \172 Act is to provide for the variation or revocation of the conditions of service of former Secretary of State Service Officers in~ respect of certain matters and matters connected therewith or inciden tal thereto. The 1972 Act has changed Regulations 561 and 983 of the Civil Service Regulations. Regulation 561 provided that officers who had joined the Indian Civil Service prior to 1921 were entitled to annuity of £ 1000. Officers who joind the Indian Civil Service 'after 1921 were entitled to annuity of Rs. 10,666-10-8. The annuity was subject to a minimum of £ 1000. Regulation 983 provided that officers who joined service prior to 1921 could be paid annuities in sterling money in London or in India in rupees at Rs. 10-2/3 for pound sterling in certain cases of annuitants and at Rs. 10-65 for pound sterling in the case of some other annuitants. Any annuitant who resided in India could exercise the option of receiving it at the rate of exchange fixed for the judgment of transactions between the British and the Indian Exchequers. Officers who joined service after 1921 were entitled to payment of annuity at the option of the recipient either in rupees converted into sterling at the rate of exchange declared to exist on the date on which payment fell due or at the fixed minimum sterling. If p•ayment was taken in India it would be either in rupees or at the fixed sterling minimum converted into rupees at the rate of exchange declared to exist on the date on which payment fell due. Annuitants of certain classes were given the option to receive annuity converted into rupees at the rate _1_ sh-6 d to a rupee so long as they resided in India. On _15_ August, 1947 under Regulation 561 of the Civil Service Regu1'ations a member of the Indian Civil Service on retirement was entitled to an annuity of Rs. 10,666-10-8 subject to a minimum of £ 1000. If a member of the Indian Civil Service chose to draw his pension at the "Home Treasury", that is London, he could draw his sterling minimum of £ 1000. It may be stated here that the Secretary of State in a despatch dated 25th February, 1928 Joaid down the rate of exchange for the purpose of pension and overseas pay etc. at 1 sh-6 d to a rupee, and this rate of exchange continued up to the date rupees at the rate of 1 sh-6 d to a rupee. II Regulation 561 _was_ amended by the President under the provisions of Article 309. The amended came into force on 12 June, 1956. As a result of the amendment Indian members of the Indian Civil Service who retired or sought retirement were entitled under Regulation 56l to an annuity of Rs. 13,333.33 payable in India in rupees only. The annuity of Rs. 13,333.33 was equivalent to £ 1000 converted into rupees at the rate of 1 sh-6 d to a rupee. The •amended Regulation 561 converted the payment of annuity of £ 1000 at the rate of _1_ sh-6 d to a rupee, that is to say, at the rate which was fixed by the Secretary of State in 1928 and which continued up to 15 August, 1947. 800 SUl'RBME COUR r REPORTS [1975) l S.C.R. The amen~ment in 19 _5_ 6 de linked the pension to a currency which A no longer continued to be legal tender in Indirui Treasuri~. This was necessary because of the changed conditions flowing from the transfer of power. The amendment of RegulatioQ. _5_ 61 does not infringe the provisions of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The amendment makes no distinction in the matter of payment of pension to the members of the B Indian Civil Service retiring after 12 June, 1956 irrespective of the fact that they are citizens of India. or are of non-Indian domicile if they draw their pension in India. On or from 12 June, 1956 >all members of the Indian Civil Service having their residence in India on retirement are entitled to their annu###### ity only in India and in rupees alone. c Under Regulation 561 the petitioners and the appellants in CA 147 of 1971, 2467 and 2468 of 1972 were entitled to an annuity o£ Rs. 13,333.33 subject to reduction for Family Pension and Death-cumRetirement Gratuity. A ### • Under section 7 of the 1972 Act the petitioners and the appellants aro entitled to an annuity of Rs. 13,333.33 subject to reduction of Family Pension and Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity. The 1972 Act came into force on 1 October, 1972. Section 8 of the Act provide~ that no former Secretary of State Sen~ce Officer shall be entitled, or be deemed ever to have been entitled, to claim (a) pension in sterling: or (b) that his pension shall be paid outside India; or (c) where his pension was expressed in sterling or a fixed sterling minimum was applicable in respect of the pension payable to him, that his pension shall be computed in the rupee equivalen~ of the amount fixed in sterling at a rate of exchange exceeding the rate of Rs. 13,333.33 to £ 1000 sterling. A member of the Indian Civil Service who is also a member of the Indian Administrative Service is entitled to an annuity of Rs. 13,333.33 which was equivalent to £ 1000 converted into rupees at the rate off l sh-6 d to a rupee. Article 3 l 2A which was introduced by the Constitution (Twentyeighth Amendment) Act confers power on Parliament to make a law to vary or revoke, whether prospectively or retrospectively, the conditions of service as respects pension of persons who, h"ving been appointed by Secretary of State or Secretary of State in Council to a Civil Service of tho Crown in India before the commencement of. this Constitution, retired or otherwise ceased to be in service at any time before the commencement of the Constitution (Twentyeighth Amendment) Act, 1972. D E F G _(_ The petitioners and tho appellant in CA 147 of 1971 and Cftir 2467 and 2468 of 1972 all joined the Indian Civil Service after 1921. H Tho pension to which these members of the Indian Civil Service were entitled on 15 Au'1Jst, 1947 has not been altered. V. B. RAJU _v._ GUJARAT _(Ray, C.J.)_ 80 I Shri Raman one of the petitioners appearing in person submitted that the salary, annuity and pension of the members of the Indian Civil Service were, to borrow his words, basic structure which could not be amended by any Act of Parliament. This is only to be stated to be rejected. The petitioner Raman in particular •and others who supported him contended that officers who belonged to the Indian Civil Service were entitled to payment of annuity by converting £ 1000 into Indian currency at the official rate of exchange. The contentions of the petitioners are that it is their basic right to be paid annuity in Indian currency •at the official rate of exchange of rupee to a pound. The petitioners submit that these officers are denied such basic rights and it is unconstitutional to deny them these rights. The alleged basic rights ar~ not only absurd but also in-supportable in law. When Indian Civil Servants were in the employment of the :British Government, they had under Regulations 561 am! 983 certain privileges. Even in 1928 the Secretary of State regulated the rate of exchange. On the date of transfer on 15 August, 194 7 the officers belonging to the Indian Civil Service were entitled to annuity of Rs. 10,666-10-8 which was subject to a minimum of £ 1000. Officers who received annuity at equivalent Indian currency were paid at the rate of e'<changc of 1 sh6 d to a rupee. After the 1956 amendment of Regulation 561' the Indian members of the Indian Civil Service who retired or sought retirement were entitled to •an annuity of Rs. 13,333.33 which is payable in India in rupees only. The members of the former Indian Civil Service and of the Indian Administrative Service are under the 1972 Act entitled to an annuity of Rs. 13,333.33 which is equivalent to £ 1000 converted into rupees at the rate of 1 sh-6 cl to a rupee. There hes been no change. Ail that has happened as a result of !he 1972 Act is to lay dow,n that annuitants are not entitled to claim payment of pension in sterllng or outside India or by converting £ 1000 at the rate of exchange exceeding the rate of exchange of Rupee thirteen and one third to the pound sterling. The annuitants reside in India. Indian currency is the legal tender. There is no constitutional vice in fixing the rate of exchange and the mode of payment by legislation. The petitioners and the appellants have neither right nor merit in the alleged claims. For the foregoing reasons, the petitions fail and CA 268 of 1972 is allc 1 wed and C.A. 147 of 1971, 2467 and 2468 of 1972 are dismissed. Parties will pay and bear their own _costs._ V.P.S. _Petitions_ _dismissed._ 5-Ll92SupCI/75 -~ A B ###### c 0 E F G