![Impugned orders were quashed, and applicants’ GPF benefits ordered restored under applicable rules.. Ashwini Raju vs Department of Telecommunication. CAT - ['Bangalore']. LawLens](/stories/thumbnails/impugned-orders-were-quashed-and-applicants-gpf-benefits-ordered-restored-under-applicable-8a2ebd9f669c452785d20387ba685c11.webp)
Facts
The applicants, BSNL employees, sought consideration for coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, relying on specified departmental letters and judgments concerning similarly situated employees.
Source reference: p. 7–8They challenged departmental orders dated 16 February, 5 March, 23 April and 24 April 2024, which declined to extend the claimed benefit beyond the employees in the case addressed by the relevant policy.
Source reference: p. 7–8The application was brought under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985.
Source reference: p. 7The Tribunal noted that it had decided the same issue in OA No. 580/2025 and connected matters on the same day.
Source reference: p. 8Issues
1. Whether the applicants were entitled to have their claim for coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 considered in light of the cited departmental letters and judgments.
Source reference: p. 7–82. Whether the challenged departmental orders should be quashed and the applicants’ GPF benefits restored.
Source reference: p. 8Law Applied
The application was made under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, which provides the procedural basis for an application to the Tribunal.
Source reference: p. 7The applicants relied on the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, departmental letters, and decisions of courts and tribunals concerning pension coverage.
Source reference: p. 7–8The Tribunal did not set out or independently analyse those authorities in this order; it treated its decision in OA No. 580/2025 and connected matters, delivered the same day, as governing and disposed of this application “in similar terms”.
Source reference: p. 8Reasoning
The Tribunal did not separately assess the applicants’ eligibility under the pension rules or discuss the cited decisions.
Source reference: p. 8–9Instead, it concluded that the issue was no longer res integra because it had been addressed in OA No. 580/2025 and connected matters.
Source reference: p. 8–9Applying the outcome in those matters, it set aside the challenged orders and directed restoration of the applicants’ GPF benefits as per the applicable rules.
Source reference: p. 8–9The reasoning and precise legal basis of the companion decision are not reproduced in this order.
Source reference: p. 8–9Holding
The Tribunal disposed of the OA in terms of its decision in OA No. 580/2025 and connected matters.
It quashed and set aside the orders dated 16 February, 5 March, 23 April and 24 April 2024, and directed the respondents to restore the applicants’ GPF benefits as per the Rules within 12 weeks of receipt of a certified copy of the order.
Source reference: p. 8–9No order was made as to costs.
Source reference: p. 8–9Acts & Sections Cited
1 provisions across 1 statute referred to in this judgment. Each provision opens on LawLens.
Administrative Tribunals Act, 19851
Original Court PDF
Ashwini RajuvsDepartment of Telecommunication
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