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CASE NO.: Appeal (civil)  7840 of 2002

PETITIONER: Harwindra Kumar

RESPONDENT: Chief Engineer, Karmik & Ors.

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 18/11/2005

BENCH: CJI & B.N.AGRAWAL

JUDGMENT: J U D G M E N T  WITH  Writ Petition (C) Nos. 377, 435, 441, 576 and 681 of 2002, Civil Appeal          Nos.  7841, 7842, 7843, 7844, 7845, 7846, 7847, 7848, 7849, 7855, 7857 and  7858 of 2002, Civil Appeal No. 6268 of 2003 and Civil Appeal No.  _6906_____ of 2005 (@ SLP(C) No. 4552 of 2003).  

B.N.AGRAWAL, J.  

       Leave granted.         Question that arises in these batch of cases is as to whether  amendment made in Rule 56(a) of Uttar Pradesh Fundamental Rules (in short  ’the Rules’) by Notification dated June 27, 2002 enhancing age of  superannuation of government servants from 58 years to 60 years would be  applicable to the employees of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (hereinafter referred  to as ’the Nigam’).         Appellants of these appeals as well as petitioners in the Writ Petitions  were employed in the Local Self Government Engineering Department of the  Government of Uttar Pradesh.  In the year 1975, the State Legislature  promulgated an Act, viz., Uttar Pradesh Water Supply & Sewerage Act, 1975  (hereinafter referred to as ’the Act’), under Section 3 whereof, the State  Government was empowered to issue notification to constitute a corporation  by the name of the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam pursuant to which a notification  was issued establishing the same with effect from 18th June, 1975.  From the  date of the establishment of the Nigam, which is the appointed date as  enumerated in Section 31 of the Act, all properties and assets which  immediately before the appointed date were vested in the State Government  for the purposes of Local Self Government Engineering Department shall vest  in and stand transferred to the Nigam and all rights, liabilities and obligations  of the State Government pertaining to the said Department shall be the rights,  liabilities and obligations of the Nigam.  Under Section 37 of the Act, every  person who was employed in the Local Self Government Engineering  Department of the State of Uttar Pradesh shall on and from the appointed  date, i.e., 18th June, 1975 would become employee of the Nigam and shall  hold his office or service therein by the same tenure, at the same  remuneration and upon same other terms and conditions and with the same  rights and privileges as to pension, gratuity and other matters as he would  have held the same on the appointed date if this Act had not come into force  and shall continue to do so until his remuneration or other terms and  conditions of service are revised or altered by the Nigam under or in  pursuance of any law or in accordance with any provision which for the time  being governed his service.  Before the appointed date, i.e., 18th June, 1975,  the age of superannuation of these employees under Rule 56(a) of the Rules  was 58 years which could be extended in exceptional circumstances up to the  age of 60 years.  Thereafter, the State Government issued order to the Nigam  under its letter dated October 31, 1975 wherein it was clearly stated that in  accordance with Section 37 of the Act the service conditions of such  employees of the Nigam would continue to remain the same so long the same  are not altered by the Nigam in accordance with law.  Thereupon, Nigam took

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a decision on 4th April, 1977 in conformity with the provisions of Section 37 of  the Act wherein specifically it was mentioned that the rights and  responsibilities as were enjoyed by the officers of the then Local Self  Government Engineering Department under the Financial Hand Book, PWD  Manuals, Manual of Government Orders, Civil Services Regulations,  Government Conduct Rules and other Manuals of Government Orders that  have been passed or shall be passed by the Government from time to time  shall be deemed to be applicable to the officers of the Nigam provided any  other order in this regard is not passed by the Nigam. Section 97(2)(c) confers power upon the Nigam to make regulations  with the previous approval of the State Government on matters, inter alia, the  salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of employees of the  Nigam.   In exercise of the aforesaid powers under Section 97 of the Act,  regulations were framed by the Nigam on Ist September, 1978 as Uttar  Pradesh Jal Nigam Engineers (Public Health Branch) Service Regulations,  1978 (hereinafter referred to as ’the Regulations’) which came into force with  immediate effect and Regulation 31 thereof laid down that the pay,  allowances, pension, leave, imposition of penalty and other terms and  conditions of service of the employees of the Nigam shall be governed by  such rules, regulations and orders which are equally applicable to other  serving government servants functioning in the State.    On 17th July, 1985,  the State Government issued a general order under its Memo No. 665/44- 1/85 directing thereunder that the public sector undertakings should not give  the benefit of  extension of age as provided to the government servants under  Rule 56(a) of the Rules without the permission of the State Government.  On  28th November, 2001, the State Government issued a notification notifying  thereunder approval of the Governor for increasing the age of superannuation  of government servants from 58 years to 60 years in public interest and steps  were required to be taken for making suitable amendment in Rule 56(a) of the  Rules, pursuant to which Rules were amended by Uttar Pradesh Fundamental  (Amendment) Rules, 2002 by notification dated 27th June, 2002 which came  into force with effect from 28th November, 2001 and thereunder the age of  retirement of government servants was enhanced from 58 years to 60 years.   In the meantime, after the issuance of notification dated 28th November, 2001,  on behalf of Nigam a letter was written to the State Government on 31st  December, 2001 making inquiry thereunder as to whether enhancement in the  age of superannuation from 58 years to 60 years would be applicable to the  employees of Nigam and in reply thereto, on 22nd January, 2002, Special  Secretary to the Government in the Department of Local Self Government  communicated that the employees of the Nigam shall not be entitled to  enhancement of superannuation age from 58 years to 60 years as the same  would be applicable only to the government servants.  On receipt of the said  order, the Nigam resolved on 11th July, 2002 that enhancement in the age of  superannuation from 58 years to 60 years would not be applicable to the  employees of the Nigam.  Thereupon orders were issued to the appellants in  the Civil Appeals as well as petitioners in the Writ Petitions to the effect that  they would retire upon completing the age of 58 years.          The appellants of these Civil Appeals challenged the orders by filing  separate writ applications before the High Court which have been dismissed  on the ground that 60 years which is enhanced age of superannuation would  not apply to the employees of the Nigam but the same would apply only to the  government servants which gave rise to the present appeals by special leave.   In the meantime, the writ petitioners instead of moving the High Court have  directly filed writ petitions before this Court challenging the orders issued by  the Nigam against them to the effect that they would superannuate upon  completion of the age of 58 years.          Learned counsel in support of the appeals as well as writ petitions  submitted that in view of the provisions of Section 37 of the Act and  Regulation 31 of the Regulations framed under Section 97(2)(c) thereof, the  age of superannuation of the government servants, as amended from time to  time, would apply to the employees of the Nigam as the same has not been  altered by the Nigam by making amendment in Regulation 31 of the  Regulations.    On the other hand, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the  Nigam submitted that 60 years which is the enhanced age of superannuation  of the government servants would not be applicable to the employees of the

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Nigam.          To appreciate the point in issue, it would be necessary to refer to the  relevant provisions of Sections 15, 31(1), 37, 89 and 97 of the Act and  Regulation 31 of the Regulations which read thus:- "15.  Powers of the Jal Nigam. \026 (1) The Nigam shall, subject  to the provisions of this Act have power to do anything which  may be necessary or expedient for carrying out its functions  under this Act.          (2)  Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing  provision, such power shall include the power \026  (i)     to inspect all water supply and sewerage facilities in  the State by whomsoever they are operated;  (ii)    to obtain such periodic or specific information from  any local body and operating agency as it may deem  necessary;  (iii)   to provide training for its own personnel as well as  employees of the local bodies;  (iv)    to prepare and carry out schemes for water supply  and sewerage;  (v)     to lay down the schedule of fees for all services  rendered by the Nigam to the State Government,  local bodies, institutions or individuals;  (vi)    to enter into contract or agreement with any person,  firm or institution, as the Nigam may deem necessary,  for performing its functions under this Act;  (vii)   to adopt its own budget annually;  (viii)  to approve tariffs for water supply and sewerage  services applicable to respective local areas  comprised within the jurisdiction of Jal Sansthans and  such local bodies as have entered into an agreement  with the Nigam under Section 46;  (ix)    to borrow money, issue debentures to obtain  subventions and grants and manage its own funds;  (x)     to disburse loans to local bodies for their water supply  and sewerage schemes; (xi)    to incur expenditure and to grant loans and advances  to such persons or authorities as the Nigam may  deem necessary for performing the functions under  this Act.  31.  Vesting and transfer of property to Nigam. \026 (1) As from  June, 18, 1975, the date of establishment of the Nigam  hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "the appointed date", -  a)      all properties and assets (including waterworks,  buildings, laboratories, stores, vehicles, furnitures and  other furnishing) which immediately before the appointed  date were vested in the State Government for the  purposes of the Local Self Government Engineering  Department shall vest in and stand transferred to the  Nigam; and  b)      all the rights, liabilities and obligations of the State  Government whether arising out of any contract or  otherwise pertaining to the said departments shall be the  rights, liabilities and obligations of the Nigam.  37.  Transfer of employees to Nigam. \026 (1) Save as otherwise  provided in this section every person, who was employed in the  Local Self Government Engineering Department of the State  Government shall on and from the appointed date become  employee of the Nigam and shall hold his office or service  therein by the same tenure, at the same remuneration and upon  same other terms and conditions, and with the same rights and  privileges as to pension, gratuity and other matters as he would  have held the same on the appointed date if this Act has not  come into force, and shall continue to do so until his  employment in the Nigam is terminated or until his remuneration  or other terms and conditions of services are revised or altered

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by the Nigam under or in pursuance of any law or in accordance  with any provision which for the time being governs his service. 89.  Directions to the Nigam on questions of policy. \026 (1) In  the discharge of its functions, the Nigam shall be guided by  such directions on questions of policy as may be given to it by  the State Government.          (2)  If any question arises whether any matter is or is not  a matter as respects which the State Government may issue a  direction under sub-section (1), the decision of the State  Government shall be final.  97.  Regulations. \026 (1)  The Nigam and a Jal Sansthan may,  with the previous approval of the State Government, make  regulations, not inconsistent with this Act and the rules made  thereunder, for the administration of the affairs of the Nigam or  a Jal Sansthan.      (2)         In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of  the foregoing power, such regulations may provide for all or any  of the following matters, namely \026  a)      xxxxxxx           xxxxxxxxxx            xxxxxxxx    xxxxxx b)      xxxxxxx           xxxxxxxxxx            xxxxxxxx    xxxxxx c)      the salaries and allowances and other conditions of  service of employees of the Nigam or a Jal Sansthan  other than employees employed on contract basis. Regulation 31 \026 Besides the provision made under these  regulations, the pay and allowances, pension, leave, imposition  of penalty and other terms and conditions of service shall be  governed by such rules, regulations and orders which are  equally applicable to other serving government servants  concerned functioning in the State."     

       From the aforesaid provisions, it would be clear that the appointed date  for the purposes of the Act was 18th June, 1975 when the Nigam was  established and under Section 37 of the Act, conditions of service of the  appellants/petitioners who were employed in the Local Self Engineering  Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh before the appointed date,  were continued to remain the same as they were before the appointed date  unless and until the same are altered by the Nigam under the provisions of the  Act.   Section 97 confers power upon the Nigam with the previous approval of  the State Government to frame Regulations in relation to service conditions of   employees of the Nigam and acting thereunder, Regulations were framed by  the Nigam in the year 1978, Regulation 31 whereof provides that service  conditions of the employees of the Nigam shall be governed by such rules,  regulations and orders which are applicable to other serving government  servants functioning in the State of Uttar Pradesh.  Thus, from a bare reading  of Section 37 and Regulation 31, it would be clear that the service conditions  of the employees of the Nigam would be the same as are applicable to the  employees of the State Government under the Rules, Regulations and Orders  applicable to such government servants so long the same are not altered by  the Nigam in accordance with the provisions of the Act.  If Regulations would  not have been framed, the Nigam had residuary power under Section 15(1) of  the Act whereby under general power it could change the service conditions  and the same could remain operative so long regulations were not framed but  in the present case, regulations were already framed in the year 1978  specifically providing in Regulation 31 that the conditions of service of the  employees of the Nigam shall be governed by the Rules, Regulations and  Orders governing the conditions of service of government servants which  would not only mean then in existence but any amendment made therein as  neither in Section 37 nor in Regulation 31, it has been mentioned that the  Rules then in existence shall only apply.  After the amendment made in Rule  56(a) of the Rules by the State Government and thereby enhancing the age of  superannuation of government servants from 58 years to 60 years, the same  would equally apply to the employees of the Nigam and in case the State  Government as well as the Nigam intended that the same would not be  applicable, the only option with it was to make suitable amendment in  Regulation 31 of the Regulations after taking previous approval of the State

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Government and by simply issuing direction by the State Government  purporting to act under Section 89 of the Act and thereupon taking  administrative decision by the Nigam under Section 15 of the Act in relation to  age of the employees would not tantamount to amending Regulation 31 of the  Regulations.   Reference in this connection may be made to a decision of this Court in  the case of V.T.Khanzode and others v. Reserve Bank of India and  another AIR 1982 SUPREME COURT 917.  In that case, under Section 58(1)  of the Reserve Bank of India Act, powers were conferred upon the Central  Board of Directors of the Bank to make regulations in order to provide for all  matters for which provision was necessary or convenient for the purpose of  giving effect to the provisions of the Act which section in the opinion of their  Lordships included the power to frame regulation in relation to service  conditions of the bank staff.  In that case, instead of framing regulations, the  bank issued administrative circulars in relation to service conditions of the staff  acting under Section 7(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act which was a  general power conferred upon the bank like Section 15(1) of the present Act.   It was laid down that "there is no doubt that a statutory corporation can do only  such acts as are authorized by the statute creating it and that, the powers of  such a corporation cannot extend beyond what the statute provides expressly  or by necessary implication."  It was further laid down that "so long as staff  regulations are not framed under Section 58(1), it is open to the Central Board  to  issue administrative circulars regulating the service conditions of the staff,  in the exercise of power conferred by Section 7(2) of the Act."  As in the said  case, no regulation was at all framed under Section 58 of the Reserve Bank of  India Act, as such, the administrative circulars issued by the Central Board of  Directors of the Bank under Section 7(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act in  relation to service conditions were held to be in consonance with law and not  invalid.  In the present case, as Regulations have been framed by the Nigam  specifically enumerating in Regulation 31 thereof that the Rules governing the  service conditions of government servants shall equally apply to the  employees of the Nigam, it was not possible for the Nigam to take an  administrative decision acting under Section 15(1) of the Act pursuant to  direction of the State Government in the matter of policy issued under Section  89 of the Act and directing that the enhanced age of superannuation of 60  years applicable to the government servants shall not apply to the employees  of the Nigam.  In our view, the only option for the Nigam was to make suitable  amendment in Regulation 31 with the previous approval of the State  Government providing thereunder age of superannuation of its employees to  be 58 years, in case, it intended that 60 years which was the enhanced age of  superannuation of the State Government employees should not be made  applicable to employees of the Nigam.  It was also not possible for the State  Government  to give a direction purporting to Act under Section 89 of the Act  to the effect that the enhanced age of 60 years would not be applicable to the  employees of the Nigam treating the same to be a matter of policy nor it was  permissible for the Nigam on the basis of such a direction of the State  Government in policy matter of the Nigam to take an administrative decision  acting under Section 15(1) of the Act as the same would be inconsistent with  Regulation 31 which was framed by the Nigam in the exercise of powers  conferred upon it under Section 97(2)(c) of the Act.          For the foregoing reasons, we are of the view that so long Regulation  31 of the Regulations is not amended, 60 years which is the age of  superannuation of government servants employed under the State of Uttar  Pradesh shall be applicable to the employees of the Nigam.  However, it would  be open to the Nigam with the previous approval of the State Government to  make suitable amendment in Regulation 31 and alter service conditions of  employees of the Nigam, including their age of superannuation.  It is needless  to say that if it is so done, the same shall be prospective.          For the foregoing reasons, the appeals as well as writ petitions are  allowed, orders passed by the High Court dismissing the writ petitions as well  as those by the Nigam directing that the appellants of the Civil Appeals and  petitioners of the Writ Petitions would superannuate upon completion of the  age of 58 years are set aside and it is directed that in case the employees  have been allowed to continue up to the age of 60 years by virtue of some

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interim order, no recovery shall be made from them but in case, however, they  have not been allowed to continue after completing the age of 58 years by  virtue of erroneous decision taken by the Nigam for no fault of theirs, they  would be entitled to payment of salary for the remaining period up to the age of  60 years which must be paid to them within a period of three months from the  date of receipt of copy of this order by the Nigam.   There shall be no order as  to costs.