1991 S C M R 1041

Present: Saad Saood Jan, Ajmal Mian, Rustam S. Sidhwa,

Muhammad Afal !one and Sajjad Ali Shah, JJ
".A. S#AR$A%" and others&&&Petitioners
'ersus
()*+R%M+%, )- PA."S,A% throu/h Se0retar1,
-inan0e 2i'ision, "slama3ad and others&&&Res4ondents.
Constitutional Petitions Nos.15-R, 16-R of 1989, 2-R and 5-R of 1990, heard on 16th January,
199f.
Per Ajmal Mian5 Muhammad Afal !one and Sajjad Ali Shah, JJ. a/reein/5 Saad Saood
Jan and Rustam S. Sidhwa, JJ. also a/reein/ 3ut addin/ se4arate notes&&&
6a7 Constitution of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
----Art. 212---nter!retation.
"nder #lause $1% of Arti#le 212, Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(% the a!!ro!riate )e*islature has
+een e,!o-ered to ena#t for the esta+lish,ent of one or ,ore Ad,inistrati.e Courts or
/ri+unals for e0er#isin* e0#lusi.e 1urisdi#tion in res!e#t of the ,atters referred to in su+-#lauses
$a%, $+% and $#% of the a+o.e #lause, -hi#h inter alia in#lude the ,atters relatin* to the ter,s and
#onditions of !ersons $-ho are or ha.e +een% in the ser.i#e of Pa&istan in#ludin* in res!e#t of
dis#i!linary ,atters. t ,ay further +e noti#ed that #lause $2% of the a+o.e Arti#le !ro.ides that
not-ithstandin* anythin* herein+efore #ontained, -here any Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal is
esta+lished in ter,s of #lause $1%, no other Court shall *rant an in1un#tion, ,a&e any order or
entertain any !ro#eedin*s in res!e#t of any ,atter to -hi#h the 1urisdi#tion of su#h
Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal e0tends. t also !ro.ides for the a+ate,ent of the !endin*
!ro#eedin*s in res!e#t of su#h ,atters e0#e!t those a!!eals, -hi#h -ere then !endin* in the
2u!re,e Court. /he !ro.iso to #lause $2% #onte,!lates that the a+o.e #lause shall not +e
a!!li#a+le to an Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal esta+lished under an A#t of a Pro.in#ial
Asse,+ly unless at the re3uest of that Asse,+ly ,ade in the for, of a Resolution,
4a1lis-e-2hoora +y la- e0tends the !ro.isions to su#h a Court or /ri+unal, -hereas #lause $(%
!ro.ides an a!!eal to 2u!re,e Court -ith lea.e fro, a 1ud*,ent, de#ree, order or senten#e of an
Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal !ro.ided the #ase in.ol.es a su+stantial 3uestion of la- of
!u+li# i,!ortan#e.
637 Ser'i0e ,ri3unals A0t 6!;; of 199:7&&&
----2s. 5 6 (---nter!retation.
2u+se#tion $1% of se#tion 5 of the 2er.i#e /ri+unals A#t, 19'( !ro.ides ri*ht of an a!!eal +efore
the 2er.i#e /ri+unal to a #i.il ser.ant if he is a**rie.ed +y any final order, -hether ori*inal or
a!!ellate, ,ade +y a de!art,ental authority in res!e#t of any of his ter,s and #onditions of the
ser.i#e -ithin (0 days of #o,,uni#ation of su#h order to hi, or -ithin si0 ,onths of the
esta+lish,ent of the a!!ro!riate /ri+unal, -hi#he.er is later, su+1e#t to su+-#lause $a% -hi#h
!ro.ides a !re#ondition for filin* of a ser.i#e a!!eal +y !ro.idin* that an a**rie.ed #i.il ser.ant
+efore a!!roa#hin* the 2er.i#e /ri+unal should file an a!!eal, re.ie- or re!resentation as ,ay
+e !ro.ided for under the rele.ant Rule7s +efore the de!art,ental authority and should -ait for
the e0!iry of 90 days fro, 7the date on -hi#h su#h a!!eal, re.ie- or re!resentation -as
!referred, if the sa,e is not de#ided +efore the e0!iry of the a+o.e !eriod. 8hereas su+-#lauses
$+% and $#% !ro.ide the #ases in -hi#h no a!!eal shall lie to the 2er.i#e /ri+unal, na,ely, $i%
a*ainst an order or de#ision of a de!art,ental authority deter,inin* the fitness or other-ise of a
!erson to +e a!!ointed to or hold a !arti#ular !ost or to +e !ro,oted to a hi*her !ost or *rade,
and $ii% a*ainst an order or de#ision of a de!art,ental authority ,ade at any ti,e +efore the 1st
July, 1969. t ,ay further +e noti#ed that under #lause $a% of su+se#tion $2% in #ase of a !enalty
of dis,issal fro, ser.i#e, re,o.al fro, ser.i#e, #o,!ulsory retire,ent or redu#tion to a lo-er
!ost or ti,e-s#ale or to a lo-er sta*e in a ti,e-s#ale, the a!!eal shall lie to a /ri+unal referred -to
in su+se#tion $(% of se#tion ( of the A#t, and in any other #ase under #lause $6% to a /ri+unal
referred to in su+se#tion $'% of se#tion ( of the A#t. t ,ay also +e noti#ed that the e0!lanation to
su+se#tion $2% of se#tion 5 defines the ter, 9de!art,ental authority9 as ,eans an authority other
than a /ri+unal -hi#h is #o,!etent to ,a&e an order in res!e#t of any of the ter,s and
#onditions of the #i.il ser.ant.
607 Constitution of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
----Art. 212---2er.i#e /ri+unals A#t $):: of 19'(%, 2. 5---Jurisdi#tion of Courts is e0#luded
only in res!e#t of the #ases in -hi#h the 2er.i#e /ri+unal under 2. 5$1% of the 2er.i#e /ri+unals
A#t, 19'( has the 1urisdi#tion---f the 2er.i#e /ri+unal does not ha.e 1urisdi#tion to ad1udi#ate
u!on a !arti#ular ty!e of *rie.an#e, the 1urisdi#tion of the Courts re,ains inta#t---2er.i#e
/ri+unal has 1urisdi#tion a*ainst a final order, -hether ori*inal or a!!ellate, ,ade +y a
de!art,ental authority in res!e#t of any ter,s and #onditions of ser.i#e.
6d7 Ser'i0e ,ri3unals A0t 6!;; of 199:7&&&
----2. 5---A!!eal---Jurisdi#tion---Ci.il ser.ant -hen a**rie.ed +y a final order, -hether ori*inal
or a!!ellate, !assed +y a de!art,ental authority in res!e#t of his ter,s and #onditions, his
re,edy, if any, is +y -ay of an a!!eal +efore the 2er.i#e /ri+unal e.en -here the #ase in.ol.es
.ires of a !arti#ular 2er.i#e Rule or a Notifi#ation or the 3uestion, -hether an a##used #i.il
ser.ant #an #lai, the ri*ht to +e re!resented +y a #ounsel +efore the ;n3uiry <ffi#er---f a
statutory rule or a notifi#ation ad.ersely affe#ts the ter,s and #onditions of a #i.il ser.ant, the
sa,e #an +e treated as an order in ter,s of 2. 5$1% in order to file an a!!eal +efore the 2er.i#e
/ri+unal.
4. =a,in >ureshi .. sla,i# Re!u+li# of Pa&istan and another P ) ? 1980 2 C 22@ 3an Ah,ed
Ahurra, .. Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan and others P ) ? 1980 2 C 15(@ /he Controller, Central
;0#ise and )and Custo,s and others .. Asla, Ali 2hah P ) ? 1985 2 C 82@ /he 2u!erintendent
of Poli#e, Cead3uarters, )ahore and 2 others .. 4uha,,ad )atif P ) ? 1988 2 C (8'@ A+dul
8aha+ Ahan .. Bo.ern,ent of the Pun1a+ and ( others P ) ? 1989 2 C 508 and A+dul Dari ..
Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan and 2 others P ) ? 1981 Aar. 290 ref.
6e7 Ser'i0e ,ri3unals A0t 6!;; of 199:7&&&
----2. 5---Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(%, Art. 25---A!!eal---Jurisdi#tion of 2er.i#e
/ri+unal---Ci.il ser.ant #annot +y-!ass 2er.i#e /ri+unal +y addin* a *round of .iolation of the
Eunda,ental Ri*hts---2er.i#e /ri+unal -ill ha.e 1urisdi#tion in a #ase -hi#h is founded on the
ter,s and #onditions of the ser.i#e e.en if it in.ol.es the 3uestion of .iolation of the
Eunda,ental Ri*hts.
4. =a,in >ureshi .. sla,i# Re!u+li# of Pa&istan and another P ) ? 1980 2 C 22@ 3an Ah,ed
Ahurra, .. Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan and others P ) ? 1980 2 C 15(@ /he Controller, Central
;0#ise and )and Custo,s and others .. Asla, Ali 2hah P ) ? 1985 2 C 82@ /he 2u!erintendent
of Poli#e, Cead3uarters, )ahore and 2 others .. 4uha,,ad )atif P ) ? 1988 2 C (8'@ A+dul
8aha+ Ahan .. Bo.ern,ent of the Pun1a+ and ( others P ) ? 1989 2 C 508 and A+dul Dari ..
Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan and 2 others P ) ? 1981 Aar. 290 ref.
6f7 Constitution of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
----Art. 185$(%---2u!re,e Court, under Art. 185$(%, is #o,!etent to entertain a Constitutional
!etition if it #onsiders that a 3uestion of !u+li# i,!ortan#e is in.ol.ed -ith referen#e to the
enfor#e,ent of any of the Eunda,ental Ri*hts #onferred +y Cha!. 1 of Part of the Constitution
of Pa&istan $19'(%, not-ithstandin* that there ,i*ht +e an alternate re,edy.
6/7 Constitution&of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
----Art. 185$(%---2u!re,e Court #an ta&e #o*niFan#e of any ,atter under Art. 185$(% if it
in.ol.es a 3uestion of !u+li# i,!ortan#e -ith referen#e to the enfor#e,ent of any of the
funda,ental ri*hts #onferred .+y Cha!. 1 of Part , Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(% at the +ehest
of an indi.idual !erson or a *rou! of !ersons re!resented throu*h an asso#iation or a !oliti#al
!arty.
6h7 Constitution of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
----Art.185$(%---Ci.il Pro#edure Code $G of 1908%, 0.1, R.8---<ri*inal 1urisdi#tion of 2u!re,e
Court---Pro.isions of 0.1. R.8, C.P.C. ha.e no a!!li#ation if 2u!re,e Court ta&es #o*niFan#e of
any ,atter under Art. 185$(% in.o&in* a 3uestion of !u+li# i,!ortan#e -ith referen#e to
enfor#e,ent of Eunda,ental Ri*hts.
<rder , Rule 8, C.P.C. deals -ith filin* of a re!resentati.e suit and #onte,!lates o+tainin* of
!er,ission fro, the Court for filin* of su#h a suit and ser.i#e of the noti#e +y a !u+li#
ad.ertise,ent et#. t also !ro.ides that any !erson desirin* to +e#o,e a !arty to su#h a suit, ,ay
a!!ly for +ein* i,!leaded as a !arty. /he !ro.isions of <rder , Rule 8, C.P.C. ha.e no
a!!li#ation as 2u!re,e Court #an ta&e #o*niFan#e of any ,atter under #lause $(% of Arti#le 185
of the Constitution if it in.ol.es a 3uestion of !u+li# i,!ortan#e -ith referen#e to the
enfor#e,ent of any Eunda,ental Ri*hts #onferred +y Cha!ter 1 of Part at the +ehest of an
indi.idual !erson or a *rou! of !ersons re!resented throu*h an asso#iation or a !oliti#al !arty.
8hen !ro#eedin*s are in the nature of !u+li# interest liti*ation in order to ad.an#e the #ause of
1usti#e and !u+li# *ood, the !o-er #onferred on 2u!re,e Court under #lause $(% of Arti#le 185
of the Constitution is to +e e0er#ised li+erally unfettered -ith te#hni#alities.
Cussain Da&hsh .. 2ettle,ent Co,,issioner, Ra-al!indi and others P ) ? 19'0 2 C 1 and 4iss
DenaFir Dhutto .. Eederation of Pa&istan and another P ) ? 1988 2 C 516 refH
6i7 Constitution of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
----Art. 185---<ri*inal 1urisdi#tion of 2u!re,e Court---Pu+li# interest liti*ation--n order to
ad.an#e #ause of 1usti#e and !u+li# *ood, the !o-er #onferred on 2u!re,e Court under Art.
185$(% has to +e e0er#ised li+erally unfettered -ith te#hni#alities.
An1u,an Araian, Dhera .. A+dul Rashid and 5 others P ) ? 19'( )ah.500 distin*uished.
?.2. Na&ara and others .. "nion of ndia A R 198( 2 C 1(0 and Peo!le7s "nion for ?e,o#rati#
Ri*hts and others .. "nion of ndia and others A R 1982 2 C 15'( ref.
6j7 $ords and 4hrases&&&
...... Pension9---?efinition and o+1e#t of the ter,---Ci.il 2er.ants A#t $):: of 19'(%, 2.
19---ICi.il ser.i#eJ.
Pensions are !eriodi# !ay,ents, usually for the natural life of a !erson -ho retires +e#ause of
a*e or disa+ility. 2o,eti,es the ter, refers to !eriodi# !ay,ents to -i.es, -ido-s or #hildren
of a !ri,ary or de#eased !erson or !ensioner@ o##asionally, a !ension -ill +e #on.eyed solely as
an honour for #ons!i#uous ser.i#e or .alour. Pensions are !ro.ided +y Bo.ern,ent in three
*uisesH $1% as #o,!ensation or re#o,!ense to -ar .eterans and fa,ilies for old a*e or for
disa+ility or death, usually fro, ser.i#e #auses@ $2% as disa+ility or old a*e retire,ent +enefits for
#i.ilian e,!loyees of *o.ern,ent@ $(% as so#ial se#urity !ay,ents for the a*e, disa+led or
de#eased #itiFenry +ased on !ast e,!loy,ent history of su+1e#t to #urrent e.iden#e of need.
Pensions are also !ro.ided +y ,any non-*o.ern,ental e,!loyers as a ,eans of !rote#tin*
-or&ers retirin* for a*e or disa+ility and for relie.in* the !ayroll of su!erannuated !ersonnel.
/hey are so,eti,es !ro.ided +y union-,ana*e,ent -elfare funds, asso#iations or trusteeshi!s.
<nly rarely do e,!loyees in *rou!s, asso#iations or unions underta&e their o-n !ension
!ro*ra,,e -ithout e,!loyer or Bo.ern,ent assistan#e.
;0#e!t as li,ited +y the Constitution the esta+lish,ent of a !ension syste, is -ithin the s#o!e
of the le*islati.e !o-er. /he *rantin* of !ensions to !u+li# offi#ers or !u+li# e,!loyees ser.es
the !u+li# !ur!ose, and is desi*ned to indu#e #o,!etent !ersons to enter and re,ain in the !u+li#
ser.i#e or e,!loy,ent, and to en#oura*e the retire,ent fro, !u+li# ser.i#e of those -ho ha.e
+e#o,e in#a!a#itated fro, !erfor,in* their duties as -ell as they ,i*ht +e !erfor,ed +y
youn*er or ,ore .i*orous !ersons. t has also +een stated that a !ension syste, is intended to
!ro,ote effi#ient, #ontinued and faithful ser.i#e to the e,!loyer and e#ono,i# se#urity to the
e,!loyees and their de!endents, +y an arran*e,ent under -hi#h, +y fulfil,ent of s!e#ified
eli*i+ility re3uire,ents, !ensions +e#o,e !ro!erty of the indi.idual as a ,atter of ri*ht u!on the
ter,ination of !u+li# ser.i#e.
A !ension is a !eriodi#al allo-an#e of ,oney *ranted +y the Bo.ern,ent in #onsideration or
re#o*nition of ,eritorious !ast ser.i#es, or of loss or in1ury sustained in the !u+li# ser.i#e. A
!ension is ,ainly desi*ned to assist the !ensioner in !ro.idin* for his daily -ants, and it
!resu!!oses the #ontinued life of the re#i!ient.
/he ri*ht to a !ension de!ends u!on statutory !ro.isions and therefore, the e0isten#e of su#h
ri*ht in !arti#ular instan#es is deter,ina+le !ri,arily fro, the ter,s of the statute under -hi#h
the ri*ht or !ri.ile*e is *ranted. /he ri*ht to a !ension ,ay +e ,ade to de!end u!on su#h
#onditions as the *rantor ,ay see fit to !res#ri+e. /hus, it has +een held that it ,ay +e !ro.ided,
in a *eneral Pension A#t, that any !erson -ho a##e!ts the +enefits thereof shall forfeit his ri*ht to
a s!e#ial !ension !re.iously *ranted.
2u,,in* u! it #an +e said -ith #onfiden#e that !ension is not only #o,!ensation for loyal
ser.i#e rendered in the !ast, +ut !ension also has a +roader si*nifi#an#e, in that it is a ,easure of
so#io-e#ono,i# 1usti#e -hi#h inheres e#ono,i# se#urity in the fall of life -hen !hysi#al and
,ental !ro-ess is e++in* #orres!ondin* to a*in* !ro#ess and, therefore, one is re3uired to fall
+a#& on sa.in*s. <ne su#h sa.in* in &ind is -hen you *i.e your +est in the hey day of life to
your e,!loyer, in days of in.alidity, e#ono,i# se#urity +y -ay of !eriodi#al !ay,ent is assured.
/he ter, has +een 1udi#ially defined as a stated allo-an#e or sti!end ,ade in #onsideration of
!ast ser.i#e or a surrender of ri*hts or e,olu,ents to one retired fro, ser.i#e. /hus the !ension
!ay,ent to a Bo.ern,ent e,!loyee is earned +y renderin* lon* and effi#ient ser.i#e and
therefore #an +e said to +e a deferred !ortion of the #o,!ensation for ser.i#e rendered. n one
senten#e one #an. say that the ,ost !ra#ti#al raison deter for !ension is the ina+ility to !ro.ide
for oneself due to old a*e. <ne ,ay li.e and a.oid une,!loy,ent +ut no senility and !enury if
there is nothin* to fall +a#& u!on.
/here are .arious &inds of !ension s#he,es -hi#h are o+tainin* in .arious #ountries of the
-orldH Co-e.er, the sa,e #an +e di.ided into t-o +road #ate*ories, na,ely, $i% Bo.ern,ent
Pension 2#he,es@ $ii% Non-Bo.ern,ent Pension 2#he,es. ;a#h of the a+o.e #ate*ory #an +e
su+-di.ided into a nu,+er of su+-#ate*ories a##ordin* to the o+1e#t for -hi#h a !arti#ular
s#he,e is desi*ned.
A !ension is intended to assist a retired #i.il ser.ant in !ro.idin* for his daily -ants so lon* he is
ali.e in #onsideration of his !ast ser.i#es, thou*h re#ently the a+o.e +enefit has +een e0tended
inter alia in Pa&istan to the -ido-s and the de!endent #hildren of the de#eased #i.il ser.ants.
/he raison d7etre for !ension see,s to +e ina+ility to !ro.ide for oneself due to old-a*e. /he
ri*ht and e0tent to #lai, !ension de!ends u!on the ter,s of the rele.ant statute under -hi#h it
has +een *ranted.
A !erson -ho enters Bo.ern,ent ser.i#e has also so,ethin* to loo& for-ard after his
retire,ent, to -hat are #alled retire,ent +enefits, *rant of !ension +ein* the ,ost .alua+le of
su#h +enefits. Pension li&e salary of a #i.il ser.ant is no lon*er a +ounty +ut is a ri*ht a#3uired
after !uttin* in satisfa#tory ser.i#e for the !res#ri+ed ,ini,u, !eriod. A fortiori, it #annot +e
redu#ed or refused ar+itrarily e0#e!t to the e0tent and in the ,anner !ro.ided in the rele.ant
rules. Con.ersely full !ension ad,issi+le under the rules is not to +e *i.en as a ,atter of #ourse
unless the ser.i#e rendered has +een duly a!!ro.ed. f the ser.i#e has not +een thorou*hly
satisfa#tory, the authority san#tionin* the !ension is e,!o-ered to ,a&e su#h redu#tion in the
a,ount as it ,ay dee, !ro!er. /his !o-er is ho-e.er e0er#isa+le only +efore !ension is
a#tually san#tioned.
;n#y#lo!aedia Dritanni#a, Gol. 1', 196( ;dn., !. 588@ Cor!us Juris 2e#undu,, Gols. 6', '0, !!.
52(, '6(-'65@ A,eri#an Juris!ruden#e, Gol. 50, !!. 980-981@ /he 2tate of Pa&istan and another
.. 4ehra1uddin P ) ? 1959 2C $Pa&.% 15'@ /he Bo.ern,ent of NH 8.E.P. throu*h /he 2e#retary
to the Bo.ern,ent of N.-8.E.P. Co,,uni#ation and 8or&s ?e!art,ents, Pesha-ar ..
4uha,,ad 2aid Ahan and another P ) ? 19'( 2C 515@ ?eo&inandan Prasad .. 2tate of Dihar
and others A R 19'1 2C 1509 and 2tate of Pun1a+ and another .. 3+al 2in*h A R 19'6 2C
66' ref.
687 Ci'il Ser'ants A0t 6!;;" of 199:7&&&
----2. 19--Ci.il 2er.i#e Re*ulations, Re*lns. 5 6 586---Pension---Ci.il ser.ant, on retire,ent
fro, ser.i#e, shall +e entitled to re#ei.e su#h !ension or *ratuity as ,ay +e
!res#ri+ed---<ffi#er7s #lai, to !ension is re*ulated +y the Rules in for#e at the ti,e -hen offi#er
resi*ns or is dis#har*ed fro, the 7ser.i#e of Bo.ern,ent---Ne- *round or a ne- a.enue #an +e
e0!lored on the +asis of so,e le*al !rin#i!le and not ,erely on the *round -hat a!!ears to +e
1ust and e3uita+le.
/he ri*ht and e0tent of the !ension a,ount de!ends on the lan*ua*e of the rele.ant statute or the
rules fra,ed thereunder. n order to lin& re.ision of !ension a,ount -ith the re.ision of !ay
s#ales, there should +e a statutory !ro.ision to that effe#t. /he Ci.il 2er.ants A#t does not
#ontain any su#h !ro.ision, on the #ontrary, se#tion 19 of the latter A#t e0!ressly !ro.ides that
on retire,ent fro, ser.i#e, a #i.il ser.ant shall +e entitled to re#ei.e su#h !ension or *ratuity as
,ay +e !res#ri+ed. /he a+o.e entitle,ent has +een !res#ri+ed in the for, of the C.2.R. 5, -hi#h
inter alia lays do-n that an offi#er7s #lai, to !ay and allo-an#es is re*ulated +y the rules in for#e
at the ti,e in res!e#t of -hi#h the !ay and allo-an#es are earned@ to lea.e +y the, rules in for#e
at the ti,e the lea.e is a!!lied for and *ranted@ and to !ension +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e
-hen the offi#er resi*ns or is dis#har*ed fro, the ser.i#e of Bo.ern,ent.
A ne- *round or a ne- a.enue #an +e e0!lored on the +asis of so,e le*al !rin#i!le and not
,erely on the *round -hat a!!ears to +e 1ust and e3uita+le.
Cor!us Juris 2e#undu,, Gol. 6' and ?. 2. Na&ara and others .. "nion of ndia AR 198( 2 C
1(0 distin*uished.
6l7 Constitution of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
----Art. 25$1%---All #itiFens are e3ual +efore la- and entitled to e3ual !rote#tion of la----2tate,
ho-e.er, is not !rohi+ited to treat its #itiFens on the +asis of a reasona+le #lassifi#ation
---Reasona+le #lassifi#ation---Dasis or #riterion for #lassifi#ation as to a.ert .iolation of Art.
25$1%.
Clause $1% of Arti#le 25 of the Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(% enshrines the +asi# #on#e!t of
reli*ion of sla,. Co-e.er, this is no- &no-n as the *olden !rin#i!le of ,odern Juris!ruden#e,
-hi#h en1oins that all #itiFens are e3ual +efore la- and are entitled to e3ual !rote#tion of la-.
Co-e.er, the a+o.e #lause does not !rohi+it treat,ent of #itiFens +y a 2tate on the +asis of a
reasona+le #lassifi#ation.
Eollo-in* are the !rin#i!les -ith re*ard to e3ual !rote#tion of la- and reasona+leness of
#lassifi#ationH
$i% that e3ual !rote#tion of la- does not en.isa*e that e.ery #itiFen is to +e treated ali&e in all
#ir#u,stan#es, +ut it #onte,!lates that !ersons si,ilarly situated or si,ilarly !la#ed are to +e
treated ali&e@
$ii% that reasona+le #lassifi#ation is !er,issi+le +ut it ,ust +e founded on reasona+le distin#tion
or reasona+le +asis@
$iii% that different la-s #an .alidly +e ena#ted for different se0es, !ersons in different a*e *rou!s,
!ersons ha.in* different finan#ial standin*s, and !ersons a##used of heinous #ri,es@
$i.% that no standard of uni.ersal a!!li#ation to test reasona+leness of a #lassifi#ation #an +e laid
do-n as -hat ,ay +e reasona+le #lassifi#ation in a !arti#ular set of #ir#u,stan#es ,ay +e
unreasona+le in the other set of #ir#u,stan#es@
$.% that a la- a!!lyin* to one !erson or one #lass of !ersons ,ay +e #onstitutionally .alid if
there is suffi#ient +asis or reason for it, +ut a #lassifi#ation -hi#h is ar+itrary and is not founded
on any rational +asis is no #lassifi#ation as to -arrant its e0#lusion .fro, the ,is#hief of Arti#le
25@
$.i% that e3ual !rote#tion of la- ,eans that all !ersons e3ually !la#ed +e treated ali&e +oth in
!ri.ile*es #onferred and lia+ilities i,!osed@
$.ii% that in order to ,a&e a #lassifi#ation reasona+le, it should +e +ased--
$a% on an intelli*i+le differentia -hi#h distin*uishes !ersons or thin*s that are *rou!ed to*ether
fro, those -ho ha.e +een left out@
$+% that the differentia ,ust ha.e rational ne0us to the o+1e#t sou*ht to +e a#hie.ed +y su#h
#lassifi#ation.
Prin#i!les as to #lassifi#ation are as underH
$a% A la- ,ay +e #onstitutional e.en thou*h it relates to a sin*le indi.idual K if, on a##ount of
so,e s!e#ial #ir#u,stan#es, or reasons a!!li#a+le to hi, and not a!!li#a+le to others, that sin*le
indi.idual ,ay +e #reated as a #lass +y hi,self.
$+% /here is al-ays a !resu,!tion in fa.our of the #onstitutionality of an ena#t,ent and the
+urden is u!on hi, -ho atta#&s it to sho- that there has +een a #lear- trans*ression of the
#onstitutional !rin#i!les. /he !erson, therefore, -ho !leads that Arti#le 25, has +een .iolated,
,ust ,a&e out that not only has he +een treated differently fro, others +ut he has +een so treated
fro, !ersons si,ilarly #ir#u,stan#ed -ithout any reasona+le +asis and su#h differential
treat,ent has +een un1ustifia+ly ,ade. Co-e.er, it is e0tre,ely haFardous to de#ide the 3uestion
of the #onstitutional .alidity of a !ro.ision on the +asis of the su!!osed e0isten#e of fa#ts +y
raisin* a !resu,!tion. Presu,!tions are resorted to -hen the ,atter does not ad,it of dire#t
!roof or -hen there is so,e !ra#ti#al diffi#ulty to !rodu#e e.iden#e to !ro.e a !arti#ular fa#t@
$#% it ,ust +e !resu,ed that the )e*islature understands and #orre#tly a!!re#iates the needs of its
o-n !eo!le, that its la-s are dire#ted to !ro+le,s ,ade ,anifest +y e0!erien#e, and that its
dis#ri,inations are +ased on ade3uate *rounds@
$d% the )e*islature is free to re#o*niFe the de*rees of har, and ,ay #onfine its restri#tion to
those #ases -here the need is dee,ed to +e the #learest@
$e% in order to sustain the !resu,!tion of #onstitutionality, the Court ,ay ta&e into #onsideration
,atters of #o,,on &no-led*e, ,atters of #o,,on re!ort, the history of the ti,es and ,ay
assu,e e.ery state of fa#ts -hi#h #an +e #on#ei.ed e0istin* at the ti,e of le*islation@
$f% -hile *ood faith and &no-led*e of the e0istin* #onditions on the !art of the )e*islature are to
+e !resu,ed, if there is nothin* on the fa#e of the la- or the surroundin* #ir#u,stan#es +rou*ht
to the noti#e of the Court on -hi#h the #lassifi#ation ,ay reasona+ly +e re*arded as +ased, the
!resu,!tion of the #onstitutionality #annot +e #arried to the e0tent of al-ays holdin* that there
,ust +e so,e undis#losed and un&no-n reasons for su+1e#tin* #ertain indi.iduals or
#or!orations to hostile or dis#ri,inatin* le*islation@
$*% a #lassifi#ation need not +e s#ientifi#ally !erfe#t or lo*i#ally #o,!lete@
$h% the .alidity of a rule has to +e 1ud*ed +y assessin* its o.erall effe#t and not +y !i#&in* u!
e0#e!tional #ases. 8hat the Court has to see is -hether the #lassifi#ation ,ade is a 1ust one
ta&in* all as!e#ts into #onsideration.
Dri*. $Retd.% E.D. Ali and another .. /he 2tate P ) ? 19'5 2C 506@ sla,i# Re!u+li# of Pa&istan
throu*h 2e#retary, 4inistry of nterior and Aash,ir Affairs, sla,a+ad .. A+dul 8ali Ahan,
4.NA. for,er President of ?efun#t National A-a,i Party P ) ? 19'6 2C 5'@ 4st. AFiF De*u,
and others .. Eederation of Pa&istan and others P ) ? 1990 2C 899@ 2hrin 4unir and others ..
Bo.ern,ent of Pun1a+ throu*h 2e#retary Cealth, )ahore and another P ) ? 1990 2C 295@
Charan1it )al Cho-dhury .. /he "nion of nida and others A R 1951 2C 51@ 2hri Ra, Arishna
?al,ia and others .. 2hri Justi#e 2.R. Rendol&ar and others A R 1958 2C 5(8@ /he Anant
4ills Co. )td. .. 2tate of Bu1rat and others $19'5% 2 2CC 1'5@ 2tate of Aerala and another ..
N.4. /ho,as and others $19'6% 2 2CC (10@ n reH 2!e#ial Courts Dill, 19'8 $2!e#ial Referen#e
No.l of 19'8% A R 19'9 LC 5'8@ A1ay Casia et#. .. Ahalid 4u1i+ 2ehra.ardi and others A R
1981 2C 5870@ ?.2. Na&ara and others .. "nion of ndia A R 198( 2C 1(0 and G.N. 2hu&la on
Constitution of ndia, 'th ;dn. ref.
6m7 Ci'il Ser'ants A0t 6!;;" of 199:7&&&
----2. 19---Ci.il 2er.i#e Re*ulations, Re*ln. 51---Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(%, Art.
25---Pension---Pensioners and ser.in* #i.il ser.ants---Reasona+le #lassifi#ation -ill +e that all
the !ensioners as a *rou! are to +e treated as one #lass and all ser.in* #i.il ser.ants as a *rou!
are to +e treated as a se!arate #lass---f the !ay s#ales of ser.in* #i.il ser.ants are raised, the
#i.il ser.ants -ho ha.e +y then already retired #annot ha.e any le*iti,ate *rie.an#e to a*itate
for notional re.ision of their !ay s#ales for re#o,!osin* their !ension a,ounts for any !ur!ose
and there #annot +e any unifor,ity in the a,ounts of !ension a,on* the #i.il ser.ants des!ite of
ha.in* e3ual ran& and e3ual len*th of ser.i#e, if they retire not on one date +ut on different dates
and in +et-een su#h dates !ay s#ales are re.ised---Pensioner #an, ho-e.er, ha.e a le*iti,ate
*rie.an#e if he is not treated ali&e -ith other !ensioners.
Reasona+le #lassifi#ation -ill +e that all the !ensioners as a *rou! are to +e treated as one #lass
and all ser.in* #i.il ser.ants as a *rou! are to +e treated as a se!arate #lass. n this .ie- of the
,atter, if the !ay s#ales of ser.in* #i.il ser.ants are re.ised, the #i.il ser.ants -ho ha.e +y then
already retired #annot ha.e any le*iti,ate *rie.an#e to a*itate for notional re.ision of their !ay
s#ales for re-#o,!utin* their !ension a,ounts for any !ur!ose as the !ension a,ount is to +e
#o,!uted as a+o.e C.2.R.5 on the +asis of the !ension rules in for#e on the date of retire,ent of
a #i.il ser.ant. /he !ension rules #ontain for,ula as to the ,ethod of #o,!utation of !ension
a,ount -ith referen#e to the salary dra-n +y hi, till the date of retire,ent and, therefore, there
#annot +e unifor,ity in the a,ounts of !ension a,on* the #i.il ser.ants des!ite of ha.in* e3ual
ran& and e3ual len*th of ser.i#e, if they retire not on one date +ut on different dates and in-
+et-een su#h dates !ay s#ales are re.ised. Co-e.er, a !ensioner ,ay ha.e a le*iti,ate
*rie.an#e if he is not treated ali&e -ith other !ensioners, for e0a,!le, if the
)e*islatureMBo.ern,ent in#reases !ension a,ount +y 10N, say on 1-1-1991, +ut !ro.ides that
this +enefit -ill +e a.aila+le to those !ensioners -ho ha.e retired on or after 1-1-1989. n other
-ords, the !ensioners -ho had retired !rior to 1-1-1989 are de!ri.ed of the a+o.e +enefit. /his
-ould +e .iolati.e of Arti#le 25 of the Constitution unless the Bo.ern,ent #an de,onstrate that
the a+o.e su+-#lassifi#ation -ithin the #lass of !ensioners is +ased on an intelli*i+le differentia
and that the latter has rational ne0us to the o+1e#t sou*ht to +e a#hie.ed +y the rele.ant
#lassifi#ation under the statute or statutory rule.
6n7 Constitution of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
-Art., 25---Ci.il 2er.ants A#t $):: of 19'(%, 2. 19---;3ual !rote#tion of la---- Reasona+le
#lassifi#ation---8hether a s!e#ial date fi0ed for a.aila+ility of any !ri.ile*e or +enefit #an +e the
+asis of #lassifi#ation.
As a *eneral !ro!osition it #annot +e laid do-n that in no #ase a s!e#&ed date #an +e ,ade +asis
for #lassifi#ation. t -ill de!end on the fa#ts of ea#h #ase and if the s!e#ifi#ation of a !arti#ular
date is +ased on an intelli*i+le differentia, -hi#h in turn has ne0us to the o+1e#t for -hi#h the
rele.ant statute has +een ena#ted, su#h #lassifi#ation -ill +e le*al and .alid +ut if the7
s!e#ifi#ation of a date is ar+itrary or -hi,si#al, it #annot +e ,ade +asis for #lassifi#ation.
A distin#tion is to +e dra-n +et-een a #ase in -hi#h a date is s!e#ified for the !ur!ose of
3ualifyin* for #ertain +enefit under #ertain ena#t,entMs#he,e and a date -hi#h ,ay +e s!e#ified
for the enfor#e,ent of a !arti#ular ta0in* statute or a notifi#ation *rantin* #ertain #on#ession
fro, !ay,ent of ta0es and e0#ise duty. /he for,er #ate*ory should !ass the test of reasona+le
#lassifi#ation, -hereas for the latter #ate*ory, there is no su#h re3uire,ent as the le*islature or
the Bo.ern,ent has the dis#retionM!o-er to fi0 a date for the enfor#e,ent of a !arti#ular statute
or for *rantin* #ertain #on#ession in res!e#t of ta0 or e0#ise duty, and for that !ur!ose, there
#annot +e any ,athe,ati#al or lo*i#al -ay of fi0in* a date e0#e!t that the )e*islature or the
Bo.ern,ent ,ay fi0 the sa,e a##ordin* to its o-n need and #on.enien#e.
?.R. Ni, .. "nion of ndia A R 196' 2 C 1(01@ Jaila 2in*h and another .. 2tate of Ra1asthan
and others A R 19'5 2 C 15(6@ ?.2. Na&ara and others .. "nion of ndia AR 198( 2C 1(0@
"nion of ndia and another .. 4essrs Para,es-aran 4at#h 8or&s et#. A R 19'5 2 C 2(59@
?.B. Bouse and Co., $A*ents% P.t. )td. .. 2tate of Aerala and another A R 1980 2 C 2'1 and
/he A##ountant-Beneral, Pun1a+ and another .. Ch. >adir Da&hsh and another P ) ? 198( )ah.
256 ref.
6o7 Constitution of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
---Art. 205 and7 Eifth 2#hed.---Jud*es $)ea.e% Pension and Pri.ile*es $A,end,ent% <rder $5 of
198(%---Denefit of Presidential <rder 5 of 198( -ould +e a!!li#a+le to those Jud*es -ho had
retired !rior to 1st July, 1981.
/he !lain readin* of the Presidential <rder No.5 of 198( ,a&es it #lear that no-here in this
<rder, it has +een stated that the +enefit of this <rder -ould not +e a!!li#a+le to those Jud*es
-ho had retired !rior to 1st July, 1981. t has also not +een !ro.ided in this <rder that the
,a0i,u, li,it -ould only +e a!!li#a+le to the Jud*es -ho had retired on or after 1st July,
1981. "nder Arti#le 205 of the Constitution, re,uneration and other ter,s and #onditions of
ser.i#e of a Jud*e of the 2u!re,e Court or of a Ci*h Court shall +e as !ro.ided in the Eifth
2#hedule. /here is a #onstitutional !ro.ision fi0in* re,uneration and other ter,s and #onditions
of a Ci*h Court Jud*e. n a##ordan#e -ith su#h !ro.isions, the !ay and !ension of the Jud*es of
the su!erior Courts are fi0ed +y a #onstitutional instru,ent. /he Eifth 2#hedule relates to
re,uneration and ter,s and #onditions of ser.i#e of Jud*es. /his 2#hedule is not to +e read in
isolation, as it is a !art of the Constitution. /he salary and other !ri.ile*es of the su!erior Courts
Jud*es are allo-ed under a #onstitutional !ro.ision, in order to &ee! the 1udi#iary inde!endent.
/he +asi# !rin#i!le of inter!retation of statutes is that if the -ords are #lear and una,+i*uous,
then literal #onstru#tion ,ust +e follo-ed. /he intention of the la--*i.er #an +e seen fro, the
-ords the,sel.es and no forei*n ele,ent is to +e introdu#ed. /he inter!retation ,ust +e
har,onious and reasona+leH
4. A. Rashid .. Pa&istan throu*h Einan#e ?i.ision Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan, sla,a+ad and (
others P ) ? 1988 >uetta '0 a!!ro.ed.
Per Saad Saood Jan a/reein/ with Ajmal Mian, J.&&&
647 Ci'il Ser'ants A0t 6!;;" of 199:7&&&
----2. 19---Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(%, Art. 25---Pension---Retired #i.il ser.ants for, a
#lass +y the,sel.es in relation to those -ho are still in ser.i#e--n the a+sen#e of any s!e#ial
#ir#u,stan#es it -ill +e dis#ri,inatory to *rant a !ri.ile*e or +enefit to one su+-#lass of retired
#i.il ser.ants and -ithhold the sa,e fro, another su+-#lass of retired #i.il ser.ants +y fi0in* a
date -ith re*ard to its a.aila+ility.
6<7 Ci'il Ser'ants A0t 6!;;" of 199:7&&&
----2. 19---Ci.il 2er.i#e Re*ulations, Re*ln. 5---Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(%, Art.
25---Pension---Denefit of any i,!ro.e,ent in !ension -hi#h ,ay +e *ranted to a #i.il ser.ant
retirin* in future ,ust not in.aria+ly +e e0tended to already retired #i.il ser.ants -ho held the
sa,e or #orres!ondin* a!!oint,ent at the ti,e of their retire,ent---f the Bo.ern,ent i,!ro.es
the !ensionary !ri.ile*es and +enefits for its ser.in* e,!loyees or future entrants it #annot +e
said that it is *uilty of dis#ri,inatory treat,ent to-ards those -ho ha.e already retired.
Per Rustam S. Sidhwa, J. a/reein/ with Ajmal Mian, J.&&&
6r7 "slami0 Juris4ruden0e&&&
---- 2tate---<+li*ations of an sla,i# 2tate to-ards its e,!loyees stated.

6s7 Constitution of Pa8istan 6199:7&&&
----Arts. 25, 2'$2%, (1, (', (8 6 29---2tate is +ound, as res!e#ts the 4usli,s of Pa&istan to
!ro,ote o+ser.an#e of the sla,i# ,oral standards@ ,a&e !ro.ision for se#urin* 1ust and
hu,ane #onditions of -or&@ se#ure the -ell-+ein* of the !eo!le inter alia +y raisin* their
standard of li.in* and ensurin* e3uita+le ad1ust,ent of ri*hts +et-een e,!loyers and
e,!loyees--Bo.ern,ent ser.ant after retire,ent earns no au*,entation in his !ension -ith
e.ery re.ision in !ension that ta&es effe#t thereafter after he has retired, unless his #ase is
s!e#ifi#ally !ro.ided for---8ith e.ery re.ision in the !ay, the entitle,ent of the ser.in*
Bo.ern,ent ser.ant to re#ei.e !ension after retire,ent stands enhan#ed, for +asi# !ay
#on1titutes an essential ele,ent of e,olu,ents in the different for,ulas that are used to
deter,ine !ension.
/he only 3uestion of !ara,ount i,!ortan#e that arises in the !resent #ase is -hether all the
!ensioners should for, a #lass a!art for !ur!oses of !ensionary +enefits so that -hene.er salary
s#ales or !ensions are au*,ented, their #onse3uent +enefits are also a.aila+le to all retired
!ensioners, a!art fro, those that -ill retire on or after the date of au*,entation ta&es effe#t, or
there #an +e su+-#lasses, ea#h su+-#lass +ein* #onstituted +y a *rou! of !ensioners -ho ha.e
retired on or after a date -hen so,e #han*e in the rules relatin* to salary s#ales or !ension has
ta&en !la#e till the date the ne0t #han*e ta&es !la#e, su+1e#t to any a,end,ents in the rules that
,ay +e ,ade fro, ti,e to ti,e au*,entin* their !ensionary +enefits. 2!ea&in* fro, an
ideolo*i#al !oint of .ie-, the ans-er to the 3uestion #an only +e in the affir,ati.e, for that
-ould +e the hi*hest so#io-e#ono,i# *oal that a 2tate #ould a#hie.e under Arti#le (8 of the
Prin#i!les of Poli#y as set out in Cha!ter 2 of Part of the Constitution, +ut if the e#ono,i#
!osition is fee+le and -ea&, the sa,e is not e#ono,i#ally feasi+le and the fulfil,ent of this
!arti#ular !rin#i!le of !oli#y, in .ie- of Arti#le 2'$2%, #an +e deferred due to non-a.aila+ility of
resour#es, the ne0t 3uestion therefore that -ould arise is -hether any le*islation affe#tin*
!ension does not .iolate any funda,ental ri*ht, su#h as the Arti#le *uaranteein* e3uality, -hi#h
stri&es do-n any for, of #lassifi#ation -hi#h is unreasona+le and ar+itrary.
/o a!!re#iate this ,atter it is ne#essary to .ie- in their !ro!er !ers!e#ti.e the ri*hts and
lia+ilities of the Bo.ern,ent re*ardin* !ay and allo-an#es and !ensionary +enefits. /he
o+li*ations of the Bo.ern,ent relatin* to !ay and allo-an#es are re*ulated +y the rules in for#e
at the ti,e in res!e#t of -hi#h the !ay and allo-an#es are earned@ and that relatin* to !ensionary
+enefits +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e -hen the Bo.ern,ent ser.ant resi*ns or is dis#har*ed
fro, ser.i#e. /he Bo.ern,ent reser.es to itself the ri*ht of #han*in* the rules and re*ulations
re*ardin* !ay and allo-an#es and !ensions, fro, ti,e to ti,e@ and their dis#retion in the ,atter -
and their ri*ht of inter!retin* their ,eanin* in #ase of dis!ute. Pay and allo-an#es are earned +y
a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant ea#h ,onth durin* ser.i#e a##ordin* to the rules in for#e on the dates they
fall due. n the e.ent of any u!-ard re.ision, he is entitled to the +enefit of the re.ised !ay and
allo-an#es if he is in ser.i#e on the date they fall due ea#h ,onth i,,ediately after the re.ision.
8hen su#h a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant retires, he #eases to earn any !ay and allo-an#es, as his
entitle,ent in that res!e#t #o,es to an end. n the ,atter of !ension, the entitle,ent to re#ei.e
the sa,e, a##ordin* to the rules in for#e, e0ists and re,ains effe#ti.e as a #ontinuin* entitle,ent,
so lon* as the Bo.ern,ent ser.ant is in ser.i#e and has ,not retired. n the e.ent of any u!-ard
re.ision, the entitle,ent to re#ei.e the sa,e, a##ordin* to the a,ended rules arises i,,ediately
after su#h re.ision and re,ains effe#ti.e as a #ontinuin* entitle,ent, so lon* as he is in ser.i#e.
8hen su#h a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant retires, he earns the !ension a##ordin* to the rules in for#e on
the date of his retire,ent. 2hould any re.ision or re.isions ta&e !la#e thereafter au*,entin* the
!ensionary +enefits, he is not entitled to the,, unless any of the, s!e#ifi#ally or retros!e#ti.ely
#o.ers his #ase. /hus, -hilst the Bo.ern,ent ser.ant in e,!loy,ent earns au*,entation in his
!ay and allo-an#es -ith e.ery re.ision that ta&es effe#t -hilst he is in ser.i#e, the Bo.ern,ent
ser.ant after retire,ent earns no au*,entation in his !ension -ith e.ery re.ision in !ension that
ta&es effe#t thereafter he has retired, unless his #ase is s!e#ifi#ally !ro.ided for. 8ith e.ery
re.ision in the !ay, the entitle,ent of the ser.in* Bo.ern,ent ser.ant to re#ei.e !ension after
retire,ent stands enhan#ed, for +asi# !ay #onstitutes an essential ele,ent of e,olu,ents in the
different for,ulas that are used to deter,ine !ension.
6t7 Ci'il Ser'ants A0t 6!;;" of 199:7&&&
----2. 19---Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(%, Art. 25---<+1e#t of Art. 25 of the Constitution of
Pa&istan $19'(%---Pension---Pay,ent of---)e*al instru,ents au*,entin* salaries or inde0ation
on salaries #annot +e stru#& do-n as .iolatin* Art. 25 of the Constitution if they indire#tly
ha!!en to affe#t !ension---;.ery ti,e in#rease in salary or inde0ation to salary ta&es !la#e, a
sins 4ass -ould +e #reated, ea#h su+-#lass +ein* #onstituted +y a *rou! of !ensioners -ho ha.e
retired on or after the date -hen so,e #han*e in the le*al instru,ents has ta&en effe#t till the
date the ne0t #han*e in the salary or inde0ation ta&es !la#e.
/he o+1e#t of Arti#le 25 is not to for#e Bo.ern,ent to le*islate o.er a ,atter -hi#h is silent, +ut
to stri&e do-n a le*islation or a le*al instru,ent -hi#h #reates #lassifi#ation -hi#h is
unreasona+le or ar+itrary. /he fa#t that salaries are in#reased or inde0ation is allo-ed thereon, is
le*islation !ertainin* to salary -hi#h s!e#ifi#ally deals -ith ser.in* Bo.ern,ent ser.ants and
has no #onne#tion -ith !ension -hi#h s!e#ifi#ally deals -ith Bo.ern,ent ser.ants -ho ha.e
retired. 4erely +e#ause the le*al instru,ents are dire#tly intended to au*,ent salaries of ser.in*
Bo.ern,ent ser.ants, the fa#t that indire#tly they ,ay tend to affe#t e,olu,ents and, thus
au*,ent !ensionary +enefits or affe#t other allo-an#es -hi#h are allo-ed as a !er#enta*e of the
-a*es and thus au*,ent su#h allo-an#es, #annot +e treated as #reatin* an unreasona+le
dis#ri,ination a*ainst re#i!ients of !ensions and allo-an#es. /he rule is that -here a !arti#ular
le*islation tends to #reate an ar+itrary distin#tion or unreasona+le dis#ri,ination, the !rin#i!le
that all !ersons si,ilarly #ir#u,stan#es or ,atters e.enly !la#ed should +e treated or dealt -ith
ali&e is enfor#ed. Dut -here a le*islation dealin* -ith one su+1e#t has the effe#t of indire#tly
affe#tin* other, !ersons or ,atters #o.ered +y another le*islation dealin* -ith another su+1e#t,
the .iolation of the rule of e3uality #annot +e +lindly enfor#ed, unless there is so,e stron*
*round -hi#h #ould ,a&e it al,ost ,andatory for the Court to do so. )e*islation also treats
salary and !ension se!arately. Just +e#ause one indire#tly affe#ts the other, it does not +e#o,e a
#ase of unreasona+le dis#ri,ination. f su#h a rule -ere to +e a!!lied, it -ould o!en u! a
!andora7s +o0 of illusi.e and unintelli*i+le #lassifi#ation, ha.in* no rationale nor reason, and all
for,s of le*islation -ould +e thro-n into utter #onfusion.
)e*al instru,ents au*,entin* salaries or inde0ation on salaries #annot +e stru#& do-n as
.iolatin* Arti#le 25 of the Constitution if they indire#tly ha!!en to affe#t !ension. /hus, e.ery
ti,e in#rease in salary or inde0ation to salary ta&es !la#e, a su+-#lass -ould +e #reated, ea#h
su+-#lass +ein* #onstituted +y a *rou! of !ensioners -ho ha.e retired on or after the date -hen
so,e #han*e in the le*al instru,ents has ta&en effe#t till the date the ne0t #han*e in the salary or
inde0ation ta&es !la#e.
?. 2. Na&ara .. /he "nion-of ndia A R 198( 2 C 1(0 ref.
6u7 Ci'il Ser'ants A0t 6!;;" of 199:7&&&
----2.19---Pension---Any li+eralised #han*e in !ension s#he,e has to +e ,ade a.aila+le to !ast
retired !ensioners !ros!e#ti.ely.
?.2.Na&ara .. /he "nion of ndia A R 198( 2 C 1(0 and Beor*e B. ;i#hel+er*er .. City of
Der&eley 56 C. 2d 182 O 29( P. 2d 1 ref.
6'7 Ci'il Ser'ants A0t 6!;;" of 199:7&&
----2. 19---Ci.il 2er.i#e Re*ulations, Cha!. 1, Re*ln. 5---Pension---/er,
9e,olu,ents9---Connotation---)i+eral do#trine #annot +e i,!oses7.7 in the !ension syste,
!re.ailin* !resently.
t is #lear fro, the definition of the ter, 9e,olu,ents97 that they are to +e #al#ulated u!on -hat
the offi#er -as re#ei.in* i,,ediately +efore his retire,ent and sin#e inter alia +asi# !ay,
dearness allo-an#e, inde0ation !ay, et#., are so,e of the #onstituents that *o to ,a&e u!
e,olu,ents, that !ay or allo-an#e et#., alone -ould +e ta&en into #onsideration -hi#h the
e,!loyee -as re#ei.in* i,,ediately +efore his retire,ent. /he !ros!e#ts of su+se3uent
in#reases in !ay or allo-an#es +ein* ta&en into #onsideration in the ter, 9e,olu,ents9 therefore
does not arise. n .ie- of the la- +ein* stri#t and #lear, the li+eral do#trine #annot +e i,!osed in
the !ension syste, !re.ailin* !resently.
6w7 "slami0 Juris4ruden0e&
---- Condu#t of 2tate ad,inistration---Bo.ern,ent7s duty to-ards its retired e,!loyees detailed.
6=7 Ci'il ser'i0e&&&
----Pension---Ainds of !ensions enu,erated and their o+1e#t and !ur!ose ela+orated---All for,
of !ensions, in#ludin* the su!erannuation !ension, !aya+le +y Bo.ern,ent, are de!endent u!on
statutory !ro.isions.
617 Ci'il Ser'ants A0t 6!;;" of 199:7&&&
---2. 19---Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(%, ArtsH 2( 6 25$1%---Pension---Pay,ent of---Ri*ht to
re#ei.e !ension +y a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant is !ro!erty so as to attra#t Arts. 2( 6 25$1% of the
Constitution of Pa&istan.
A Bo.ern,ent e,!loyee7s #lai, to !ay and allo-an#es is re*ulated +y the rules in for#e at the
ti,e in res!e#t of -hi#h the !ay and allo-an#es are earned, -hilst his #lai, to !ension is
re*ulated +y the rules- in for#e at the ti,e -hen he retires, resi*ns, or is in.alided, or is
#o,!ulsorily retired, or is dis#har*ed fro, ser.i#e, or is in1ured, or &illed -hilst in ser.i#e,
de!endin* u!on the ty!e of !ension #lai,ed. n res!e#t of su!erannuation !ension, the a,ount of
!ension !aya+le is deter,ined +y the len*th of #o,!leted years of 3ualifyin* ser.i#e !ut in +y
the Bo.ern,ent ser.ant, su+1e#t to the for,ula then in e0isten#e !ro.idin* the ,ode of
#al#ulation of !ension as !res#ri+ed +y the rules. /he ri*ht to re#ei.e !ension flo-s dire#tly out
of the rules a!!li#a+le and not out of any order of any offi#er or authority, thou*h for the
!ur!oses of deter,inin* or 3uantifyin* the a,ount it ,ay +e ne#essary for the authorities to !ass
su#h order. /he ri*ht to re#ei.e !ension +y a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant is !ro!erty so as to attra#t
Arti#les 2( and 25$1% of the Constitution and any ille*al denial to a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant to
re#ei.e tie sa,e -ould affe#t his funda,ental ri*ht *ranted under the said !ro.isions of the
Constitution.

?eo&inan&en Prasad .. /he 2tate of Dehar A R 19'1 2 C 1509@ Dha*-ant 2in*h .. "nion of
ndia A R 1962 Pun1. 50( and A.R. ;rry .. /he 2tate of Pun1a+ ) R 1 P+. 2'8 ref.
67 Ci'il Ser'ants A0t 6!;;" of 199:7&&&
----2. 19---Constitution of Pa&istan $19'(%, Arts. 29 to 50---Pension---Pay,ent of---Ri*hts and
o+li*ations of Bo.ern,ent for !ay,ent of !ension to its retired e,!loyees---8hilst the
Bo.ern,ent ser.ant in e,!loy,ent earns au*,entation in his !ay and allo-an#es -ith e.ery
re.ision that ta&es effe#t -hilst he is in ser.i#e---2tate is +ound inter alia (to !ro.ide for all.
#itiFens, -ithin a.aila+le resour#es fa#ilities for -or& and ade3uate li.elihood -ith all
reasona+le rest and ,leisure@ !ro.ide for all !ersons in the ser.i#e of Pa&istan or other-ise, so#ial
se#urity +y #o,!ulsory so#ial insuran#e or other ,eans, and !ro.ide +asi# ne#essities of life for
all #itiFens as are !er,anently or te,!orarily una+le to earn their li.elihood on a##ount of
infir,ity, si#&ness. or une,!loy,ent---8here the o+ser.an#e of any !arti#ular !rin#i!le of
!oli#y #ontained in Arts. 29 to 50 of the Constitution of Pa&istan is de!endent u!on resour#es
+ein* a.aila+le for the said !ur!ose, the !rin#i!le is to +e re*arded as +ein* su+1e#t to the
a.aila+ility of resour#es.
A.4A. 2a,dani, Ad.o#ate 2u!re,e Court and 4anFoor llahi, ;0 Ad.o#ate-on-Re#ord for
Petitioners. $in all #ases%.
AFiF A. 4unshi, Attorney-Beneral for Pa&istan $on noti#e% and Ch. ;1aF Ah,ed, ?e!uty
Attorney-Beneral for Res!ondents $in all #ases%.
?ate of hearin*H 16th January, 1991.
J>2(M+%,
AJMA! M"A%, J.&&-Dy this #o,,on 1ud*,ent, -e intend to dis!ose of the a+o.e four
!etitions, -hi#h ha.e +een entertained dire#tly +y this Court under #lause $(% of Arti#le 185 of
the Constitution of the sla,i# Re!u+li# of Pa&istan, 19'(, hereinafter referred to as the
Constitution, as they !ertain to the enfor#e,ent of the Eunda,ental Ri*hts and in.ol.e #o,,on
3uestions of fa#t and la- of !u+li# i,!ortan#e.
2. Ea#tual ,atri0 ,ay +e referred to in +rief. /he !etitioner in C.P. No.15-R .of 1989 1oined #i.il
ser.i#e in 1950 and retired fro, the ran& of Joint 2e#retary $Brade 20% -ith effe#t fro,
15-11-19'6. 8hereas the !etitioner in C.P. No.5-R of 1990 1oined #i.il ser.i#e in 1958, +ut fro,
1966 till July. 19'5, he !erfor,ed duties in the Judi#ial Dran#h of the Ci.il 2er.i#e of Pa&istan.
Ce -as ele.ated as an Additional Jud*e to the then 2indh and Dalo#histan Ci*h Court on
'-10-19'5, -here he -or&ed as su#h u! to (1-12-19'6 -hen the a+o.e Ci*h Court -as
+ifur#ated into t-o Ci*h Courts, na,ely, 2indh and Dalo#histan Ci*h Courts. After that, he
!erfor,ed his duties as an Additional Jud*e fro, 1-12-19'6 to 6-10-19'' of the Dalo#histan
Ci*h Court and thereafter as its !er,anent Jud*e fro, '-10-19'' till '-5-1981, -hen he -as
retired -ith effe#t fro, 25-(-1981 under the Pro.isional Constitution <rder, 1981. /he !etitioner
in C.P. No.16-R of 1989 is an Asso#iation of the B.C.<. retired #i.ilian offi#ers, -hereas the
!etitioner in C.P. No.2-R of 1990 is a re*istered Asso#iation for the -elfare of retired !ersons.
/he *rie.an#e of the a+o.e !etitioners and the Asso#iations is that the retired #i.il ser.ants and
the retired Jud*es, hereinafter referred to as the !ensioners, are +ein* dis#ri,inated in !ay,ent
of enhan#ed !ension in .iolation of Arti#le 25 of the Constitution inas,u#h as #ertain in#reases
in the !ension ha.e +een denied to so,e of the, on the *round that they had retired !rior to a
s!e#ified date. Co-e.er the #ase of the res!ondents, +esides !reli,inary o+1e#tions as to the
,aintaina+ility of the !etitions, is that no dis#ri,inatory treat,ent has +een ,eted out and that
the !ensioners are !aid !ensions a##ordin* to the Rules a!!li#a+le to the,.
(. 4r. AFiF A. 4unshi, learned Attorney-Beneral, -ho has a!!eared in res!onse to the Court
noti#e, has raised a !reli,inary o+1e#tion as to the ,aintaina+ility of the a+o.e !etitions on the
*round that the sa,e are +arred under Arti#le 212 of the Constitution. Ch. ;1aF Ah,ed, learned
?e!uty Attorney Beneral, -ho has a!!eared for the Eederal Bo.ern,ent, ado!ted the ar*u,ents
of the learned Attorney-Beneral on the a+o.e !reli,inary o+1e#tion and has further ur*ed that
the a+o.e t-o !etitions riled +y the t-o Asso#iations -ere also not #o,!etent as the
Asso#iations #ould not ha.e a*itated the !ersonal *rie.an#e of the !ensioners -ithout #o,!lyin*
-ith the !ro.isions of <rder , Rule 8, C.P.C.
<n the other hand, 4r. A.4.A. 2a,dani, learned Ad.o#ate 2u!re,e Court a!!earin* for the
!etitioners, has su+,itted that the a+o.e !etitions ha.e +een #o,!etently filed.
5. Defore tou#hin* u!on the ,erits of the #ases, it ,ay +e !ertinent to dilate u!on the a+o.e t-o
le*al o+1e#tions.
5. n furtheran#e of his a+o.e o+1e#tion 4r. AFiF A. 4unshi, learned Attorney-Beneral, has
in.ited our attention to Arti#le 212 of the Constitution and se#tion 5 of the 2er.i#e /ri+unals
A#t, 19'(, hereinafter referred to as the A#t, -hi#h read as follo-sH--
?Arti0le @1@ of the Constitution:
212.---$1% Not-ithstandin* anythin* herein+efore #ontained, the a!!ro!riate )e*islature ,ay +y
A#t !ro.ide for the esta+lish,ent of one or ,ore Ad,inistrati.e Courts or /ri+unals to e0er#ise
e0#lusi.e 1urisdi#tion in res!e#t of---
$a% ,atters relatin* to the ter,s and #onditions of !ersons -ho are or ha.e +een in the ser.i#e of
Pa&istan, in#ludin* dis#i!linary ,atters@
$+% ,atters relatin* to #lai,s arisin* fro, tortious a#ts of Bo.ern,ent, or any !erson in the
ser.i#e of Pa&istan, or of any lo#al or other authority e,!o-ered +y la- to le.y any ta0 or #ess
and any ser.ant of .su#h authority a#tin* in the dis#har*e of his duties as su#h ser.ant@ or
$#% ,atters relatin* to the a#3uisition, ad,inistration and dis!osal of any !ro!erty -hi#h is
dee,ed to +e ene,y !ro!erty under any la-.
$2% Not-ithstandin* anythin* herein+efore #ontained, -here any Ad,inistrati.e Court or
/ri+unal is esta+lished under #lause $1%, no other Court shall *rant an in1un#tion, ,a&e any order
or entertain any !ro#eedin*s in res!e#t of any ,atter to -hi#h the 1urisdi#tion of su#h
Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal e0tends and all !ro#eedin*s in res!e#t of any su#h ,atter
-hi#h ,ay +e !endin* +efore su#h other Court i,,ediately +efore the esta+lish,ent of the
Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal, other than an a!!eal !endin* +efore the 2u!re,e Court, shall
a+ate on su#h esta+lish,entH
Pro.ided that the !ro.isions of this #lause shall not a!!ly to an Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal
esta+lished under an A#t of a Pro.in#ial Asse,+ly unless, at the re3uest of that Asse,+ly ,ade
in the for, of a resolution, 4a1lis-e-2hoora $Parlia,ent% +y la- e0tends the !ro.isions to su#h a
Court or /ri+unal.
$(% An a!!eal to the 2u!re,e Court fro, a 1ud*,ent, de#ree, order or senten#e of an
Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal shall lie only if the 2u!re,e Court, +ein* satisfied that the #ase
in.ol.es a su+stantial 3uestion of la- of !u+li# i,!ortan#e, *rants lea.e to a!!eal.9
Se0tion 4 of the Ser'i0e ,ri3unals A0t. 199::
4. A44eals to ,ri3unals.&&617 Any #i.il ser.ant a**rie.ed +y any final order, -hether ori*inal or
a!!ellate, ,ade +y a de!art,ental authority in res!e#t of any of the ter,s and #onditions of his
ser.i#e ,ay, -ithin thirty days of the #o,,uni#ation of su#h order to hi, or -ithin si0 ,onths
of the esta+lish,ent of the a!!ro!riate /ri+unal, -hi#he.er is later, !refer an a!!eal to the
/ri+unalH
Pro'ided that&&
$a% -here an a!!eal, re.ie- or re!resentation to a de!art,ental authority is !ro.ided under the
Ci.il 2er.ants A#t, 19'( $):: of 19'(%, or any rules a*ainst any su#h order, no a!!eal shall lie
to a /ri+unal unless the a**rie.ed #i.il ser.ant has !referred an a!!eal or a!!li#ation for re.ie-
or re!resentation to su#h de!art,ental authority and a !eriod of ninety days has ela!sed fro, the
date on -hi#h su#h a!!eal, a!!li#ation or re!resentation -as so !referred@
$+% no a!!eal shall lie to a /ri+unal a*ainst an order or de#ision of a de!art,ental authority
deter,inin* the fitness or other-ise of a !erson to +e a!!ointed to or hold a !arti#ular !ost or to
+e !ro,oted to a hi*her !ost or *rade@ and
$#% no a!!eal shall lie to a /ri+unal a*ainst an order or de#ision of a de!art,ental authority ,ade
at any ti,e +efore the 1st July, 1969.
$2% 8here the a!!eal is a*ainst an order or de#ision of a de!art,ental authority i,!osin* a
de!art,ental !unish,ent or !enalty on a #i.il ser.ant, the a!!eal shall +e !referred---
$a% in the #ase of a !enalty of dis,issal fro, ser.i#e, re,o.al fro, ser.i#e, #o,!ulsory
retire,ent or redu#tion to a lo-er !ost or ti,e-s#ale, or to lo-er sta*e in a ti,e-s#ale of a
/ri+unal referred to in su+se#tion $(% of se#tion (@ and
$+% in any other #ase, to a /ri+unal referred to in su+se#tion $'% of that se#tion.
+=4lanation.&&-n this se#tion, 9de!art,ental authority9 ,eans any authority, other than a
/ri+unal, -hi#h is #o,!etent to ,a&e an order in res!e#t of any of the ter,s and #onditions of
#i.il ser.ants.9
6. A !erusal of the a+o.e-3uoted Arti#le 212 of the Constitution indi#ates that under #lause $1%,
the a!!ro!riate )e*islature has +een e,!o-ered to ena#t for the esta+lish,ent of one or ,ore
Ad,inistrati.e Courts or /ri+unals for e0er#isin* e0#lusi.e 1urisdi#tion in res!e#t of the ,atters
referred to in su+-#lauses $a%, $+% and $#% of the a+o.e #lause, -hi#h inter alia in#lude the ,atters
relatin* to the ter,s and #onditions of !ersons $-ho are or ha.e +een% in the ser.i#e of Pa&istan
in#ludin* in res!e#t of dis#i!linary ,atters. t ,ay further +e noti#ed that #lause $2% of the
a+o.e Arti#le !ro.ides that not-ithstandin* anythin* herein+efore #ontained, -here any
Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal is esta+lished in ter,s of #lause $1%, no other Court shall *rant
an in1un#tion, ,a&e any order or entertain any !ro#eedin*s in res!e#t of any ,atter to -hi#h the
1urisdi#tion of su#h Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal e0tends. t also !ro.ides the a+ate,ent of
the !endin* !ro#eedin*s in res!e#t of su#h ,atters e0#e!t those a!!eals, -hi#h -ere then
!endin* in this Court. t ,ay also +e noti#ed that the !ro.iso to #lause $2% #onte,!lates that the
a+o.e #lause shall not +e a!!li#a+le to an Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal esta+lished under an
A#t of a Pro.in#ial Asse,+ly unless at the re3uest of that Asse,+ly ,ade in the for, of a
Resolution, 4a1lis-e-2hoora +y la- e0tends the !ro.isions to su#h a Court or /ri+unal, -hereas
#lause $(% !ro.ides an a!!eal to this Court -ith lea.e fro, a 1ud*,ent, de#ree, order or senten#e
of an Ad,inistrati.e Court or /ri+unal !ro.ided the #ase in.ol.es a su+stantial 3uestion of la-
of !u+li# i,!ortan#e.
'. t ,ay also +e !ointed out that su+se#tion $1% of se#tion 5 of the A#t !ro.ides ri*ht of an
a!!eal +efore the 2er.i#e /ri+unal to a #i.il ser.ant if he is a**rie.ed +y any final order, -hether
ori*inal or a!!ellate, ,ade +y a de!art,ental authority in res!e#t of any of his ter,s and
#onditions of the ser.i#e -ithin (0 days of #o,,uni#ation of su#h order to hi, or -ithin si0
,onths of the esta+lish,ent of the a!!ro!riate /ri+unal, -hi#he.er is later, su+1e#t to su+-#lause
$a% -hi#h !ro.ides a !re#ondition for filin* of a ser.i#e a!!eal +y !ro.idin* that an a**rie.ed
#i.il ser.ant +efore a!!roa#hin* the 2er.i#e /ri+unal should file an a!!eal, re.ie- or
re!resentation as ,ay +e !ro.ided for under the rele.ant Rules +efore the de!art,ental authority
and should -ait for the e0!iry of 90 days fro, the date on -hi#h su#h a!!eal, re.ie- or
re!resentation -as !referred, if the sa,e is not de#ided +efore the e0!iry of the a+o.e !eriod.
8hereas su+-#lauses $+% and $#% !ro.ide the #ases in -hi#h no a!!eal shall lie to the 2er.i#e
/ri+unal, na,ely, $i% a*ainst an order or de#ision of a de!art,ental authority deter,inin* the
fitness or other-ise of a !erson to +e a!!ointed to or hold a !arti#ular !ost or to +e !ro,oted to a
hi*her !ost or *rade, and $ii% a*ainst an order or de#ision of a de!art,ental authority ,ade at any
ti,e +efore the 1st July, 1969. t ,ay further +e noti#ed that under #lause $a% of su+se#tion $2% in
#ase of a !enalty of dis,issal fro, ser.i#e, re,o.al fro, ser.i#e, #o,!ulsory retire,ent or
redu#tion to a lo-er !ost or ti,e-s#ale or to a lo-er sta*e in a ti,e-s#ale, the a!!eal shall lie to a
/ri+unal referred to in su+se#tion $(% of se#tion ( of the A#t, and in any other #ase under #lause
$+% to a /ri+unal referred to in su+se#tion $'% of se#tion ( of the A#t. t ,ay also +e noti#ed that
the e0!lanation to su+se#tion $2% of se#tion 5 defines the ter, 9de!art,ental authority9 as ,eans
an authority other than a /ri+unal -hi#h is #o,!etent to ,a&e an order in res!e#t of any of the
ter,s and #onditions of the #i.il ser.ant.
8. t has +een ur*ed +y the learned Attorney-Beneral that sin#e !ension is a ter, of ser.i#e in
.ie- of se#tion 19 of the Ci.il 2er.ants A#t, 19'(, -hi#h !ro.ides that on retire,ent fro,
ser.i#e, a #i.il ser.ant shall +e entitled to re#ei.e su#h !ension or *ratuity as ,ay +e !res#ri+ed,
the re,edy, if any, of the !etitioners -as to file an a!!eal +efore the 2er.i#e /ri+unal and not a
Constitution Petition dire#tly under #lause $(% of Arti#le 185 of the Constitution, !arti#ularly
&ee!in* in .ie- that a+o.e Arti#le 212 #ontains non o+stante #lause. <n the other hand, 4r.
2a,dani, learned Ad.o#ate 2u!re,e Court a!!earin* for the !etitioners, has ur*ed, firstly, that
the !etitioners are not a**rie.ed +y any order !assed in ter,s of su+se#tion $1% of se#tion 5 of
the A#t as the rele.ant ena#t,entsMnotifi#ations #annot +e treated as an order, either ori*inal or
a!!ellate, ,ade +y a de!art,ental authority and, se#ondly, that the !etitioners7 #ase is founded
solely on the *round of dis#ri,inatory treat,ent in .iolation of Arti#le 25 of the Constitution.
9. Ero, the a+o.e-3uoted Arti#le 212 of the Constitution and se#tion 5 of the A#t, it is e.ident
that the 1urisdi#tion of the Courts is e0#luded only in res!e#t of the #ases in -hi#h the 2er.i#e
/ri+unal under su+se#tion $1% of se#tion 5 has the 1urisdi#tion. t ,ust, therefore, follo- that if
the 2er.i#e /ri+unal does not ha.e 1urisdi#tion to ad1udi#ate u!on a !arti#ular ty!e of *rie.an#e,
the 1urisdi#tion of the Courts re,ains inta#t. t ,ay a*ain +e !ointed out that the 2er.i#e
/ri+unal has 1urisdi#tion a*ainst a final order, -hether ori*inal or a!!ellate, ,ade +y a
de!art,ental authority in res!e#t of any ter,s and #onditions of ser.i#e. /he 3uestion, therefore,
arises, -hether the rele.ant ena#t,entsMnotifi#ations #ontainin* the !ro.ision for !ay,ent of
enhan#ed !ension, -hi#h ha.e +een denied to the !ensioners, #an +e treated as a final order,
ori*inal or a!!ellate, !assed +y a de!art,ental authority in res!e#t of any ter,s and #onditions
of ser.i#e. 4essrs AFiF A. 4unshi and Ch. ;1aF Ah,ed, ha.e referred to the follo-in* #ases in
su!!ort of their a+o.e #ontentionH--
$i% 4. =a,in >ureshi .. sla,i# Re!u+li# of Pa&istan and another $P ) ? 1980 2 C 22%@
in -hi#h the a!!ellant -as dis,issed fro, ser.i#e under 4artial )a- 9Re*ulation 58 in 4ay,
19'0. "!on the esta+lish,ent of the Eederal 2er.i#e /ri+unal, he filed a ser.i#e a!!eal -hi#h
-as dis,issed +y the /ri+unal for -ant of 1urisdi#tion. "!on a!!eal +efore this Court, it -as
held that the Constitution s!e#ifi#ally #onte,!lated #o,!eten#e of a #i.il ser.ant to tile an
a!!eal +efore the 2er.i#e /ri+unal a*ainst an order or de#ision of a de!art,ental authority ,ade
at any ti,e after the 1st July, 1969, and that the orders or a#ts done -ithout 1urisdi#tion, #ora,
non 1udi#e or ,ala fide -ere not !rote#ted under #lause $5% of Arti#le 2'0 of the Constitution and
that the a!!ellant7s a!!eal -as #o,!etent +efore the 2er.i#e /ri+unal, -hi#h #ould e0a,ine the
a+o.e 3uestion.
$ii% 3an Ah,ed Ahurra, .. Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan and others $P ) ? 1980 2 C 15(%@
in the a+o.e #ase this Court, -hile ,aintainin* the 1ud*,ents of the 2indh Ci*h Court
dis,issin* the Constitutional !etitions of the #i.il ser.ants on the *round of -ant of 1urisdi#tion
in .ie- of Arti#le 212 of the Constitution, o+ser.ed as follo-s on the 3uestion, -hether the
/ri+unal #ould *o into the 3uestion of .ires of the Rules fra,ed +y the de!art,entH--
9As to the *round #on#ernin* the non-,aintaina+ility of the !etition, the Ci*h Court has held,
and it is also the #ase of the !etitioner, that the effe#t of the Rules is that it has altered the ter,s
and #onditions of ser.i#e. /his +ein* so, the +ar of Arti#le 212 of the Constitution -ould +e
a!!li#a+le -ith full for#e as in that e0er#ise the 3uestion of .ires of the Rules .is-a-.is se#tion 25
of the A#t -ould ne#essarily +e #onsidered. n this +ehalf the Ci*h Court has relied on the
state,ent of la- enun#iated in 4uha,,ad Cashi, Ahan and others .. Pro.in#e of Dalo#histan
and others $P ) ? 19'6 >uetta 59% and EaFal ;lahi ;1aF and others .. Bo.ern,ent. of the Pun1a+
and others -ith -hi#h a*ree.9
$iii% /he Colle#tor, Central ;0#ise and )and Custo,s and others .. Asla, Ali 2hah $P ) ? 1985
2 C 82%@
in -hi#h this Court, -hile settin* aside the 1ud*,ent of the )ahore Ci*h Court !assed in
e0er#ise of Constitutional 1urisdi#tion, held that the 3uestion that an a##used e,!loyee, -hile
defendin* his #ase +efore the ;n3uiry <ffi#er, -as entitled to +e re!resented +y a #ounsel -as a
,atter relatin* to the ter,s and #onditions of the ser.i#e and #ould only +e ad1udi#ated u!on +y
the 2er.i#e /ri+unal.
$i.% /he 2u!erintendent of Poli#e, Cead3uarters, )ahore and 2 others . 4uha,,ad )atif $P ) ?
1988 2 C (8'%@
in the a+o.e #ase this Court, -hile dis,issin* an a!!eal a*ainst the 1ud*,ent of the )ahore Ci*h
,Court !assed in e0er#ise of -rit 1urisdi#tion, re!elled the #ontention that the 1urisdi#tion of the
Courts under Arti#le 212$2% of the Constitution -as +arred only at the sta*e +efore an a!!eal is
+rou*ht +efore the 2er.i#e /ri+unal and not -hen the /ri+unal dis!osed of the sa,e. t -as held
that a*ainst an order of the 2er.i#e /ri+unal, the only re,edy a.aila+le is under #lause $(% of
Arti#le 212 of the Constitution and not a -rit !etition.
$.% A+dul 8aha+ Ahan .. Bo.ern,ent of the Pun1a+ and ( others $P ) ? 1989 2 C 508%@
in -hi#h the fa#ts -ere that the a!!ellant, -ho -as fa#in* the en3uiry !ro#eedin*s, filed a
Constitution !etition +efore any final order -as !assed a*ainst hi,, -hi#h -as dis,issed +y a
learned 2in*le Jud*e of the )ahore Ci*h Court on the *round of -ant of 1urisdi#tion. A!!eal
filed a*ainst the a+o.e 1ud*,ent, -as also dis,issed +y a ?i.ision Den#h of the said Court.
/hereu!on, the !etitioner filed a !etition for lea.e a*ainst the a+o.e 1ud*,ent, -hi#h -as
de#lined inter alia -ith the follo-in* o+ser.ationsH--
-ith re*ard to the filin* of a!!eals. /he !etitioner -ould ha.e to satisfy all the #onditions for
filin* su#h an a!!eal. <ne of the #onditions +ein* that the order i,!u*ned +efore the /ri+unal
should +e su#h -hi#h is a!!eala+le in a##ordan#e -ith the rele.ant 2er.i#e /ri+unals A#t. Dut
the order i,!u*ned +efore the Ci*h Court .is-a-.is the sta*e at -hi#h it has +een !assed, is not
a!!eala+le, the !etitioner -ould ha.e to -ait till su#h an order is !assed a*ainst hi, -hi#h is
a!!eala+le +efore the tri+unal.9
$.i% A+dul Dari .. Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan and 2 others $P ) ? 1981 Aar. 290%
in the a+o.e #ase, a Eull Den#h of fi.e Jud*es of the 2indh Ci*h, Court, -hile dealin* -ith the
3uestions referred to it, re!elled the #ontention that an order of retire,ent !assed after
#o,!letion of 25 years ser.i#e -as not #o.ered +y se#tion 5$1% of the A#t, and held that the
e0!ression 9in res!e#t of any ,atter to -hi#h the 1urisdi#tion of su#h Ad,inistrati.e Court or
/ri+unal9 used in Arti#le 212 of the Constitution ,a&es ouster of 1urisdi#tion of the Ci*h Court
#orres!ond -ith the ,atters !la#ed -ithin the a,+it of 1urisdi#tion #onferred on /ri+unal.
10. Ero, the a+o.e-#ited #ases, it is e.ident that it has +een #onsistently held inter alia +y this
Court that a #i.il ser.ant if is a**rie.ed +y a final order, -hether ori*inal or a!!ellate, !assed +y
a de!art,ental authority in res!e#t of his ter,s and #onditions, his re,edy, if any, is +y -ay of
an a!!eal +efore the 2er.i#e /ri+unal e.en -here the #ase in.ol.es .ires of a !arti#ular 2er.i#e
Rule or a notifi#ation or the 3uestion, -hether an a##used #i.il ser.ant #an #lai, the ri*ht to +e
re!resented +y a #ounsel +efore the ;n3uiry <ffi#er. 8e are in#lined to hold that if a statutory
rule or a notifi#ation ad.ersely affe#ts the ter,s and #onditions of a #i.il ser.ant, the sa,e #an
+e treated as an order in ter,s of su+se#tion $1% of se#tion 5 of the A#t in order to file an a!!eal
+efore the 2er.i#e /ri+unal. Co-e.er, in the !resent #ase, the !etitioners7 #ase is founded solely
on the *round of dis#ri,inatory treat,ent in .iolation of Arti#le 25 of the Constitution and not
+e#ause of any +rea#h of any !ro.ision of the Ci.il 2er.ants A#t or any ser.i#e rule.
Eurther,ore, the 3uestion in.ol.ed is of !u+li# i,!ortan#e as it affe#ts all the !resent and future
!ensioners and, therefore, falls -ithin the #o,!ass of #lause $(% of Arti#le 185 of the
Constitution. Co-e.er, -e ,ay #larify that a.H #i.il ser.ant #annot +ye-!ass the 1urisdi#tion of
the 2er.i#e /ri+unal +y addin* a *round of .iolation of the Eunda,ental Ri*hts. /he 2er.i#e
/ri+unal -ill ha.e 1urisdi#tion in a #ase -hi#h is founded on the ter,s and #onditions of the
ser.i#e e.en if it in.ol.es the 3uestion of .iolation of the Eunda,ental Ri*hts.
11. t -as also #ontended +y Ch. ;1aF Ah,ed that sin#e this Court under Arti#le 185$(% of. the
Constitution e0er#ises 1urisdi#tion si,ilar to that of Arti#le 199 of the Constitution, the a+o.e
#onstitution !etitions are in#o,!etent as the !etitioners ha.e ade3uate alternate re,edy in the
for, of an a!!eal +efore the 2er.i#e /ri+unal. /his #ontention is. untena+le in .ie- of -hat -e
ha.e held hereina+o.e -hile dealin* -ith the first #ontention. Co-e.er, -e ,ay o+ser.e that
e.en other-ise under #lause $(% of Arti#le 185 of the Constitution, this Court is #o,!etent to
entertain a #onstitution !etition if it #onsiders that a 3uestion of !u+li# i,!ortan#e is in.ol.ed
-ith referen#e to the enfor#e,ent of any of the Eunda,ental Ri*hts #onferred +y Cha!ter 1 of
Part l of the Constitution not-ithstandin* that there ,i*ht +e an alternate re,edy.
12. Ad.ertin* to Ch. ;1aF Ah,ed7s #ontention that the a+o.e t-o !etitions riled +y the t-o
Asso#iations are not #o,!etent, it ,ay +e o+ser.ed that in furtheran#e of his a+o.e su+,ission
he has ur*ed that sin#e the !ro#eedin*s under #lause- $(% of Arti#le 185 of the Constitution are
si,ilar to that of under Arti#le 199 +efore a Ci*h Court, the sa,e +ein* #i.il !ro#eedin*s, are
su+1e#t to the a!!li#ation of C.P.C. and hen#e the a+o.e t-o Asso#iations #ould not ha.e filed
the a+o.e t-o !etitions -ithout #o,!lyin* -ith the !ro.isions of <rder , Rule 8, C.P.C.
Relian#e -as !la#ed +y hi, on the #ase of Cussain Da&hsh .. 2ettle,ent Co,,issioner,
Ra-al!indi and others $P ) ? 19'0 2 C 1%, in -hi#h this Court, -hile dealin* -ith the 3uestion,
-hether the C.P.C. -as a!!li#a+le to Constitution !etitions under Arti#le 98 of the late
Constitution of Pa&istan 1962, held that they -ere #i.il !ro#eedin*s and as su#h -ere *o.erned
+y the !ro.isions of the C.P.C. e0#e!t those !ro.isions -hi#h-ha.e +een s!e#ially e0#luded. t
,ay +e o+ser.ed that <rder , Rule 8, C.P.C. deals -ith rilin* of a re!resentati.e suit and
#onte,!lates o+tainin* of !er,ission fro, the Court for filin* of su#h a suit and ser.i#e of the
noti#e +y a !u+li# ad.ertise,ent et#. t also !ro.ides that any !erson desirin* to +e#o,e a !arty
to su#h a suit, ,ay a!!ly for +ein* i,!leaded as a !arty. n our .ie- the !ro.isions of <rder ,
Rule 8, C.P.C. ha.e no a!!li#ation to the instant #ases as -e are in#lined to hold that this Court
#an ta&e #o*niFan#e of any ,atter under #lause $(% of Arti#le 185 of the Constitution if it
in.ol.es a 3uestion of !u+li# i,!ortan#e -ith referen#e to the enfor#e,ent of any Eunda,ental
Ri*hts #onferred +y Cha!ter 1- of Part at the +ehest of an indi.idual !erson or a *rou! of
!ersons re!resented throu*h an asso#iation or a !oliti#al !arty. /he a+o.e 3uestion has +een the
su+1e#t-,atter of dis#ussion in the #ase of 4iss DenaFir Dhutto .. Eederation of Pa&istan and
another $P ) ? 1988 2 C 516%, in -hi#h 4uha,,ad Calee,, C J ,ade the follo-in*
o+ser.ation on the a+o.e as!e#tH--
9/he !lain lan*ua*e of Arti#le 185$(% sho-s that it is o!en-ended. /he Arti#le does not say as to
-ho shall ha.e the ri*ht to ,o.e the 2u!re,e Court nor does it say +y -hat !ro#eedin*s the
2u!re,e Court ,ay +e so P9 ,o.ed or -hether it is #onfined to the enfor#e,ent of the
Eunda,ental Ri*hts of an indi.idual -hi#h are infra#ted or e0tends to the enfor#e,ent of the
ri*hts of a *rou! or a #lass of !ersons -hose ri*hts are .iolated. n this #onte0t the 3uestion
arises -hether a!art fro, the non-in#or!oration of su+-Arti#le 1$a% and 1$#% of Arti#le 199, the
ri*id notion of an 9a**rie.ed !erson9 is i,!li#it in Arti#le 185$(1 as +e#ause of the traditional
liti*ation -hi#h, of #ourse, is of an ad.ersary #hara#ter -here there is a lis +et-een the t-o
#ontendin* !arties, one #lai,in* relief a*ainst the other resistin* the #lai,. /his rule of standin*
is an essential out*ro-th of An*lo-2a0on 1uris!ruden#e in -hi#h only the !erson -ron*ed #an
initiate !ro#eedin*s of a 1udi#ial nature for redress a*ainst the -ron*-doer. Co-e.er, in #ontrast
to it, this !ro#edure is not follo-ed in the #i.il la- syste, in .o*ue in so,e #ountries. /he
rationale of this !ro#edure is to li,it it to the !arties #on#erned and to ,a&e the rule of la-
sele#ti.e to *i.e !rote#tion to the affluent or to ser.e in aid for ,aintainin* the status 3uo of the
.ested interests. /his is destru#ti.e of the rule of la- -hi#h is so -orded in Arti#le 5 of the
Constitution as to *i.e !rote#tion to all #itiFens. /he in3uiry into la- and life #annot, +e #onfined
to the narro- li,its of the rule of la- in the #onte0t of #onstitutionalis, -hi#h ,a&es a *reater
de,and on 1udi#ial fun#tions. /herefore, -hile #onstruin* Arti#le 185$(%, the inter!retati.e
a!!roa#h should not +e #ere,onious o+ser.an#e of the rules or usa*es of inter!retation, +ut
re*ard should +e had to the o+1e#t and the !ur!ose for -hi#h this Arti#le is ena#ted, that is, this
inter!retati.e a!!roa#h ,ust re#ei.e ins!iration fro, the triad of !ro.isions -hi#h saturate and
in.i*orate the entire Constitution, na,ely, the <+1e#ti.es Resolution $Arti#le 2-A%, the
Eunda,ental Ri*hts and the ?ire#ti.e Prin#i!les of 2tate !oli#y so as to a#hie.e de,o#ra#y,
toleran#e, e3uality and so#ial 1usti#e a##ordin* to sla,.9
1(. ;.en other-ise, the a+o.e !ro#eedin*s are in the nature of !u+li# interest liti*ation and,
therefore, in order to ad.an#e the #ause of 1usti#e and !u+li# *ood, the !o-er #onferred on this
Court under #lause $(% of Arti#le 185 of the Constitution is to +e e0er#ised li+erally unfettered
-ith te#hni#alities. n this re*ard, referen#e ,ay +e ,ade to the #ase of ?.2. Na&ara and others
.. "nion of ndia A R 198( 2C 1(0, on -hi#h 4r 2a,dani has hea.ily relied u!on in su!!ort
of his #ase on ,erits and in -hi#h inter alia the follo-in* o+ser.ations ha.e +een ,ade in !ara.
65 of the 1ud*,ent on the !oint in issue, -hi#h read as follo-sH--
965. )o#us standi of third !etitioner -as 3uestioned. Petitioner No.( is a 2o#iety re*istered under
the 2o#ieties Re*istration A#t of 1860. t is a non-!oliti#al non-!rofit and .oluntary or*anisation.
ts ,e,+ers #onsist of !u+li# s!irited #itiFens -ho ha.e ta&en u! the #ause of .entilatin*
le*iti,ate !u+li# !ro+le,s. /his 2o#iety re#ei.ed a lar*e nu,+er of re!resentations fro, old
!ensioners, indi.idually una+le to underta&e the 1ourney throu*h la+yrinths of le*al 1udi#ial
!ro#eeds, #ostly and !rotra#ted and, therefore, a!!roa#hed !etitioner No.( -hi#h es!oused their
#ause. <+1e#ts for -hi#h the third !etitioner-2o#iety -as for,ed -ere not 3uestioned. /he
,a1ority de#ision of this Court in 2.P. Bu!ta .. "nion of ndia, 1981 $2u!!% 2CC 8'H $A 1 R
1982 2 C 159 at !. 195%, rules that any ,e,+er of the !u+li# ha.in* suffi#ient interest #an
,aintain an a#tion for 1udi#ial redress for !u+li# in1ury arisin* fro, +rea#h of !u+li# duty or
fro, .iolation of so,e !ro.ision of the Constitution or the la- and see& enfor#e,ent of su#h
!u+li# duty and o+ser.an#e of su#h #onstitutional or le*al !ro.ision. /hird !etitioner see&s to
enfor#e ri*hts that ,ay +e a.aila+le to a lar*e nu,+er of old infir, retirees. /herefore, its lo#us
standi is un3uestiona+le. Dut it is a !oint of a#ade,i# i,!ortan#e +e#ause lo#us standi of
!etitioners Nos.1 and 2 -as ne.er 3uestioned.9
15. /he sa,e .ie- -as ta&en +y the ndian 2u!re,e Court in an earlier #ase, na,ely, Peo!le7s
"nion for ?e,o#rati# Ri*hts and others .. "nion of ndia and others $A R 1982 2 C 15'(%.
Co-e.er, Ch. ;1aF Ah,ed has relied on the #ase of An1u,an Araian, Dhera .. A+dul Rashid and
5 others P)? 19'( )ah. 500, in -hi#h a ?i.ision Den#h of the )ahore Ci*h Court, -hile dealin*
-ith a #onstitution !etition under Arti#le 98 of the late Constitution of Pa&istan, 1962, inter alia
held that a !etition under the a+o.e !ro.ision #an +e filed +y a !arty and the !arty should +e one
#o,!etent to ,aintain an a#tion and sin#e the An1u,an -hi#h had riled the a+o.e !etition -as
unre*istered +ody, it should ha.e #o,!lied -ith the !ro#edure #ontained in <rder , Rule 8,
C.P.C. /he a+o.e #ase is distin*uisha+le fro, the !resent #ase for ,ore than one reason, firstly,
in the instant #ase at least one of the Asso#iations is a re*istered +ody, -hereas the a+o.e
An1u,an -hi#h -as the !etitioner in the a+o.e referred #ase, -as not a re*istered +ody,
se#ondly, the !etition did not in.ol.e the enfor#e,ent of the Eunda,ental Ri*hts under #lause
$(% of Arti#le 185 of the Constitution, and thirdly, the a+o.e-#ited #ase did not fall -ithin the
#ate*ory of the !u+li# interest liti*ation.

15. Ca.in* dealt -ith the a+o.e le*al !reli,inary o+1e#tions, -e ,ay no- re.ert to the ,erits of
the #ase. Defore dealin* -ith the res!e#ti.e #ontentions of the learned #ounsel for the !arties, -e
,ay first refer to the definition and raison d7etre of the ter, 9!ension9 and the nature of ri*ht in
res!e#t thereof. n this re*ard, referen#e ,ay +e ,ade to ;n#y#lo!aedia Dritanni#a, Golu,e 1',
196( ;dition, !a*e 588, Cor!us Juris 2e#undu,, Golu,e 6', !a*es '6( and '65, Cor!us Juris
2e#undu,, Golu,e '0, !a*e 52(, A,eri#an Juris!ruden#e, Golu,e 50, !a*es 980 and 981, and
!ara. 29 fro, the 1ud*,ent in the #ase of ?.2. Na&ara and others .. "nion of ndia $su!ra%,
-hi#h read as follo-sH--
+=tra0t from +n010lo4aedia Aritanni0a *ol. 19 19B: +dition Pa/e
588.---9Pensions are !eriodi# !ay,ents, usually for the natural life of a !erson -ho retires
+e#ause of a*e or disa+ility. 2o,eti,es the ter, refers to, !eriodi# !ay,ents to -i.es, -ido-s
or #hildren of a !ri,ary or de#eased !erson or !ensioner@ o##asionally, a !ension -ill +e
#on.eyed solely as an honour for #ons!i#uous ser.i#e or .alour. Pensions are !ro.ided +y
Bo.ern,ent in three *uisesH $1% as #o,!ensation or re#o,!ense to -ar .eterans and fa,ilies for
old a*e or for disa+ility or death, usually fro, ser.i#e #auses@ $2% as disa+ility or old a*e
retire,ent +enefits for #i.ilian e,!loyees of *o.ern,ent@ $(% as so#ial se#urity !ay,ents for the
a*ed, disa+led or de#eased #itiFenry +ased on !ast e,!loy,ent history or su+1e#t to #urrent
e.iden#e of need. Pensions are also !ro.ided +y ,any non-Bo.ern,ental e,!loyers as a ,eans
of !rote#tin* -or&ers retirin* for a*e or disa+ility and for relie.in* the !ayroll of su!erannuated
!ersonnel. /hey are so,eti,es !ro.ided +y union-,ana*e,ent -elfare funds, asso#iations or
trusteeshi!s. <nly rarely do e,!loyees in *rou!s, asso#iations or unions underta&e their o-n
!ension !ro*ra,,e -ithout e,!loyer or Bo.ern,ent assistan#e.9
+=tra0t from Cor4us Juris Se0undum. *ol. B9. 4a/es 9B: &9B4. &&-9;0#e!t as li,ited +y the
Constitution the esta+lish,ent of a !ension syste, is -ithin the s#o!e of the le*islati.e !o-er.
/he *rantin* of !ensions to !u+li# offi#ers or !u+li# e,!loyees ser.es the !u+li# !ur!ose, and is
desi*ned to indu#e #o,!etent !ersons to enter and re,ain in the !u+li#7 ser.i#e or e,!loy,ent,
and to en#oura*e the retire,ent fro, !u+li# ser.i#e of those -ho ha.e +e#o,e in#a!a#itated
fro, !erfor,in* their duties as -ell as they ,i*ht +e !erfor,ed +y youn*er or ,ore .i*orous
!ersons. t has also +een stated that a !ension syste, is intended to !ro,ote effi#ient, #ontinued
and faithful ser.i#e to the e,!loyer and e#ono,i# se#urity to the e,!loyees and their
de!endents, +y an arran*e,ent under -hi#h, +y fulfil,ent of s!e#ified eli*i+ility re3uire,ents,
!ensions +e#o,e !ro!erty of the indi.idual as a ,atter of ri*ht u!on the ter,ination of !u+li#
ser.i#e.9
+=tra0t from Cor4us Juris Se0undum. *ol. 90, 4a/e 4@:.&&&9A !ension is a !eriodi#al
allo-an#e of ,oney *ranted +y the Bo.ern,ent in #onsideration or re#o*nition of ,eritorious
!ast ser.i#es, or of loss or in1ury sustained in the !u+li# ser.i#e. A !ension is ,ainly desi*ned to
assist the !ensioner in !ro.idin* for his daily -ants, and it !resu!!oses the #ontinued life of the
re#i!ient.9
+=tra0t from Ameri0an Juris4ruden0e, *o1.40, 4a/es 9C0 and 9C1.&&-9/he ri*ht to a !ension
de!ends u!on statutory !ro.isions therefore, and the e0isten#e of su#h ri*ht in !arti#ular
instan#es is deter,ina+le !ri,arily fro, the ter,s of the statute under -hi#h the ri*ht or
!ri.ile*e is *ranted. /he ri*ht to a !ension ,ay +e ,ade to de!end u!on su#h #onditions. as the
*rantor ,ay see fit to !res#ri+e. /hus, it has +een held that it ,ay +e !ro.ided, in a *eneral
Pension A#t, that any !erson -ho a##e!ts the +enefits thereof shall forfeit his ri*ht to a s!e#ial
!ension !re.iously *ranted.9
Para. @9 from the jud/ment in the 0ase of 2.S. %a8ara and others '. >nion of "ndia
6su4ra.&&&92u,,in*-u! it #an +e said -ith #onfiden#e that !ension is not only #o,!ensation for
loyal ser.i#e rendered in the !ast, +ut !ension also has a +roader si*nifi#an#e, in that it is a
,easure of so#io-e#ono,i# 1usti#e -hi#h inheres e#ono,i# se#urity in the fall of life -hen
!hysi#al and ,ental !ro-ess is e++in* #orres!ondin* to a*in* !ro#ess and, therefore, one is
re3uired to fall +a#& on sa.in*s. <ne su#h sa.in* in &ind is -hen you *i.e your +est in the hey
day of life to your e,!loyer, in days of in.alidity, e#ono,i# se#urity +y -ay of !eriodi#al
!ay,ent is assured. /he ter, has +een 1udi#ially defined as a stated allo-an#es or sti!end ,ade
in #onsideration of !ast ser.i#e or a surrender of ri*hts or e,olu,ents to one retired fro,
ser.i#e. /hus the !ension !aya+le to a Bo.ern,ent e,!loyee is earned +y renderin* lon* and
effi#ient ser.i#e and therefore #an +e said to +e a deferred !ortion of the #o,!ensation for
ser.i#e rendered. n one senten#e one #an say that the ,ost !ra#ti#al raison d7etre for !ension is
the ina+ility to !ro.ide for oneself due to old-a*e. <ne ,ay li.e and a.oid une,!loy,ent +ut
not senility and !enury if there is nothin* to fall +a#& u!on.9
16. t see,s that there are .arious &inds of !ension s#he,es -hi#h are o+tainin* in .arious
#ountries of the -orld. Co-e.er, the sa,e #an +e di.ided into t-o +road #ate*ories, na,ely, $i%
Bo.ern,ent Pension 2#he,es@ $ii% Non-Bo.ern,ent Pension 2#he,es. ;a#h of the a+o.e
#ate*ory #an +e su+-di.ided into a nu,+er of su+-#ate*ories a##ordin* to the o+1e#t for -hi#h a
!arti#ular s#he,e is desi*ned. n the instant #ase, -e are ,ainly #on#erned -ith the !ension
s#he,es ,eant for !u+li# e,!loyeesM!u+li# offi#ers, -ho are &no-n in the 2u+-Continent as
#i.il ser.ants.
A !ension is intended to assist a retired #i.il ser.ant in !ro.idin* for his daily -ants so lon* he is
ali.e in #onsideration of his !ast ser.i#es, thou*h re#ently the a+o.e +enefit has +een e0tended
inter alia in Pa&istan to the -ido-s and the de!endent #hildren of the de#eased #i.il ser.ants.
/he raison d7etre for !ension see,s to +e ina+ility to !ro.ide for oneself due to old-a*e. /he
ri*ht and e0tent to #lai, !ension de!ends u!on the ter,s of the rele.ant statute under -hi#h it
has +een *ranted.
1'. n the 2u+-Continent durin* the Dritish Rule sin#e it -as #onsidered that the salary -hi#h a
-#i.il ser.ant dre- -as a +ounty, the sa,e .ie- -as held in res!e#t of the !ension. Co-e.er, the
a+o.e #ontro.ersy has +een settled inas,u#h as this Court in ,ore than one #ase@ has held that
the #on#e!t that the salary -hi#h a #i.il ser.ant dre- -as a +ounty, -as no lon*er the la- of the
#ountry. Referen#e ,ay +e ,ade to the #ase of /he 2tate of Pa&istan and another .. 4#hra1uddin
$P ) ? 1959 2 C $Pa&.% 15'%. As re*ards the ri*ht to #lai, !ension, the #ontro.ersy has +een set
to rest +y this Court inter alia in the #ase of /he Bo.ern,ent of N-8.E.P. throu*h /he 2e#retary
to the Bo.ern,ent of N.-8.E.P.. Co,,uni#ation and 8or&s ?e!art,ents, Pesha-ar ..
4uha,,ad 2aid Ahan and another $P ) ? 19'( 2 C 515%, -herein the follo-in* .ie- has +een
ta&enH--
9t ,ust no- +e ta&er as -ell-settled that a !erson -ho enters Bo.ern,ent ser.i#e has also
so,ethin* to loo& for-ard after his retire,ent, to -hat are #alled retire,ent +enefits, *rant of
!ension +ein* the ,ost .alua+le of su#h +enefits. t is e3ually -ell-settled that !ension li&e
salary of a #i.il ser.ant is no lon*er 7a +ounty +ut is a ri*ht a#3uired after !uttin* in satisfa#tory
ser.i#e for the !res#ri+ed ,ini,u, !eriod. A fortiori, it #annot +e redu#ed or refused ar+itrarily
e0#e!t to the e0tent and in the ,anner !ro.ided in the rele.ant rules. Con.ersely full !ension
ad,issi+le under the rules is not to +e *i.en as a ,atter of #ourse unless the ser.i#e rendered has
+een duly a!!ro.ed. $2ee Arti#le 5'0, Ci.il 2er.i#e Re*ulations%. t is e3ually -ell-settled that if
the ser.i#e has not +een thorou*hly satisfa#tory, the authority san#tionin* the !ension is
e,!o-ered under the said Arti#le to ,a&e su#h redu#tion in the a,ount as it ,ay dee, !ro!er.
/his !o-er is ho-e.er e0er#isa+le only +efore !ension is a#tually san#tioned.9
/he sa,e .ie- has +een ta&en +y the ndian 2u!re,e Court in the #ase of ?eo&inandan Prasad
.. 2tate of Dihar and others $A R 19'1 2 C 1509% and the #ase of 2tate of Pun1a+ and another ..
3+al 2in*h $A R 19'6 2 C 66'%.
Co-e.er, the ri*ht to #lai, !ension has no- +een ,ade su+1e#t to a statutory !ro.ision
#ontained in se#tion 19 of the Ci.il 2er.ants A#t, 19'(, -hi#h reads as follo-sH--
?19. Pension and /ratuit1.&&617 <n retire,ent fro, ser.i#e, a #i.il ser.ant shall +e entitled to
re#ei.e su#h !ension or *ratuity as ,ay +e !res#ri+ed.
$2% n the e.ent of the death of a #i.il ser.ant, -hether +efore or after retire,ent, his fa,ily shall
+e entitled to re#ei.e su#h !ension, or *ratuity, or +oth, as ,ay +e !res#ri+ed.
$(% No !ension shall +e ad,issi+le to a #i.il ser.ant -ho is dis,issed or re,o.ed fro, ser.i#e
for reasons of dis#i!line, +ut Bo.ern,ents ,ay san#tion #o,!assionate allo-an#e to su#h a #i.il
ser.ant, not e0#eedin* t-o-thirds of the !ension or *ratuity -hi#h -ould ha.e +een ad,issi+le to
hi, had he +een in.alidated fro, ser.i#e on the date of su#h dis,issal or re,o.al.
$5% f the deter,ination of the a,ount of !ension or *ratuity ad,issi+le to a #i.il ser.ant is
delayed +eyond one ,onth of the date of his retire,ent or death, he or his fa,ily, as the #ase
,ay +e, shall +e !aid !ro.isionally su#h anti#i!atory !ension or *ratuity as ,ay +e deter,ined
+y the !res#ri+ed authority, a##ordin* to the len*th of ser.i#e of the #i.il ser.ant -hi#h 3ualifies
for !ension or *ratuity@ and o.er-!ay,ent #onse3uent on su#h !ro.isional !ay,ent shall +e
ad1usted a*ainst the a,ount of !ension or *ratuity finally deter,ined as !aya+le to su#h #i.il
ser.ant or his fa,ily.9
18. Ero, the a+o.e-3uoted se#tion 19 of the Ci.il 2er.ants A#t, 19'(, it is e.ident that u!on
retire,ent fro, ser.i#e, a #i.il ser.ant is entitled to re#ei.e su#h !ension or *ratuity as ,ay +e
!res#ri+ed. t has +een #andidly #on#eded +y 4r. 2a,dani, learned Ad.o#ate 2u!re,e Court
a!!earin* for the !etitioners that the !ensioners ha.e +een !aid and are +ein* !aid as !er
!res#ri+ed Rules, +ut their *rie.an#e is that they ha.e not +een *i.en the +enefits of #ertain
in#reases in the !ension a,ount.
n order to understand the #ontro.ersy in issue, it ,ay +e !ertinent to 3uote !ara. ($+%, $#% and $d%
of the *rounds of C.P. No.15-R of 1989 and !ara.l-A of the -ritten-state,ent filed +y the Eederal
Bo.ern,ent to the sa,e, !ara. 20 and !ara. $iii% of the Brounds in C.P. No.5-R of 1990, and
!ara.l$15% and 1$15% of the -ritten-state,ent filed +y the Eederal Bo.ern,ent to the a+o.e
!etition, -hi#h read as follo-sH--
+=tra0t from 4ara. :637D607 and 6d7 of the /rounds of C.P. %o.1E &R of 19C9
9($+% that the !rin#i!le that !ay and !ension +enefits, -hi#h are a deferred !ortion of the
#o,!ensation for ser.i#e rendered, a##rue to #i.il ser.ants +y .irtue of the !ost they hold and
not a##ordin* to the date on -hi#h a !erson 1oins or retires fro, ser.i#es has +een re#o*niFed +y
the Bo.ern,ent in that the 1966 Pension Rules, or the a+olition of the #ut-off !oint in 1985 and
inde0ation of !ensions did not dra- a distin#tion +et-een those -ho retired +efore and those
-ho retired after the introdu#tion of these #han*es. /he Bo.ern,ent si,ilarly in re.isin* !ay
s#ales for #i.il ser.ants does not dis#ri,inate +et-een those -ho 1oined ser.i#e +efore the
introdu#tion of su#h re.ision in !ay s#ales and those -ho 1oined thereafter. /herefore the
dis#ri,ination +et-een !ensioners -ho retired +efore a !arti#ular date and those -ho retired
later in the .arious aforesaid re.isions of the Pension Rules is ar+itrary and #a!ri#ious.
$#% /hat the a+surd and dis#ri,inatory effe#t of the afore,entioned !ro.isions #an +e illustrated
thusH--
92u!!ose that A, D and C -ere +orn in June, 1926, July, 1926 and July, 192'. All of the, 1oined
the C22 to*ether and all of the, retired in Brade 20. A -ould *et a !ension of Rs.(,668 on
retirin* in June, 1986, -hereas D on retirin* in July, 1986@ -ould *et Rs.5,025 +e#ause of the
.arious i,!ro.e,ents in !ension +enefits -hi#h -ere introdu#ed for all those -ho retired after
1st July, 198'. C on retirin* in July, 198', -ould *et an e.en hi*her !ension of Rs,5,220 +y
.irtue of the re.ision in !ay s#ales introdu#ed -ith effe#t fro, 1st July, 198'.
$d% /hat the u!-ard re.ision of !ay and !ensions +y the Bo.ern,ent has +een in re#o*nition of
the risin* #ost of li.in* and es#alatin* inflationary tenden#ies in the e#ono,y, and also de#rease
in the e#ono,i# .alue of ru!ee, and, therefore, the sa,e #onsiderations should a!!ly to all the
!ensioners irres!e#ti.e of their dates of retire,ent.9
Para. 1 &A of the $ritten &Statement filed 31 the -ederal (o'ernment to C.P. %o.1E &R of
19C9:
9Para. 1$a% ?enied. Pension is allo-ed to #i.il ser.ants in a##ordan#e -ith the !ro.isions of the
Ci.il 2er.i#e Re*ulations $C2R%. /he C2R, inter alia, !ro.ides as underH--
?CSR&4. /he Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan reser.e to the,sel.es the ri*ht of #han*in* the rules in
these Re*ulations re*ardin* !ay and a#tin* allo-an#es and lea.e and !ension, fro, ti,e to ti,e
at their dis#retion, and of inter!retin* their ,eanin* in #ase of dis!ute.
An offi#er7s #lai, to !ay and allo-an#es is re*ulated +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e in res!e#t
of -hi#h the !ay and allo-an#es are earned@ to lea.e +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e the lea.e is
a!!lied for and *ranted@ and to !ension +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e -hen the offi#er resi*ns
or is dis#har*ed fro, the ser.i#e of Bo.ern,ent.9
?CSR&4CB.-- /he ter, e,olu,ents ,eans the e,olu,ents -hi#h the offi#er -as re#ei.in*
i,,ediately +efore his retire,ent and shall in#lude--
$a% !ay as defined in ER 9$21%$a%$i%@
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ER 9$21%$a%$i% P!ay7 ,eans the a,ount dra-n ,onthly +y a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant as--
$i% the !ay, other than s!e#ial !ay or !ay *ranted in lieu of his !ersonal 3ualifi#ations -hi#h has
+een san#tioned for a !ost held +y hi, su+stanti.ely or in an offi#iatin* #a!a#ity, or to -hi#h he
is entitled +y reason of his !osition in a #adre.9
: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
/herefore, !ensions of retired Bo.ern,ent ser.ants are not re#al#ulated on re.ision of !ay s#ales
of ser.in* e,!loyeesH7
Para. @0 of the (rounds in C.P. %o.E &R of 1990:
9$20% /hat the dis#ri,inatory as!e#t of P.<. No.5 of 1988 -here+y the !etitioner has +een and
#ontinues to +e denied the +enefit of Cost of )i.in* Allo-an#e !aya+le under the said <rder, is
lia+le to +e de#lared .oid and 3uashed +y this au*ust Court in the e0er#ise of its !o-ers under
Arti#le 185$(% of the Constitution to enfor#e funda,ental ri*hts #ontained in Cha!ter 1 of Part
11 of the Constitution, inter alia, on the follo-in* *rounds.9
Para. 6iii7 of the (rounds in C.P. %o. E &R of 1990
9$iii% /hat the. dis#ri,inatory effe#t of the i,!u*ned !ro.ision in P.<. No.5 of 1988 #an +e seen
fro, the follo-in*H
4a0i,u, ,onthly !ension $in#ludin* inde0ationMC)A% of Ci*h Court Jud*e -ho retired +efore
1-'-198'H
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Ero, nde0ationMC)A A**re*ate a,ount
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
1-'-1985 R 1.100 5620
1-'-1986 R 1.1(5 5'6'
$in#lusi.e of !re.ious inde0ation%
1-'-198' R 5N on !ension 59(5
1-'-1988 R 'N of *ross !ension 5229
4a0i,u, ,onthly !ension $in#ludin* inde0tationMC)A% of Ci*h Court Jud*e -ho retired on or
after 1-'-198'H
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Ero, nde0ationMC)A A**re*ate a,ount
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
1-'-198' R Rs.2,650 su+1e#t to 6,(00
,a0. of Rs.6,(00
1-'-1988 R 'N of *ross !ension su+1e#t to 6,(00
,a0. of Rs.6,(00
/hus a Jud*e -ho retired +efore 1-'-198' -ould *et Rs.5,9(5 fro, 1'-198' and Rs.5,229 fro,
1-'-1988 as a**re*ate of !ension and inde0ation as #o,!ared to Rs.6,(00 in the #ase of a Jud*e
-ho retires on or after 1-'-198'. /he differen#e is +ound to further in#rease in #ase of any
su+se3uent u!-ard re.ision of C)A, the +enefit of -hi#h is si,ilarly denied to a Jud*e +e#ause
of his ha.in* retired fro, a date earlier than that s!e#ified for the !ur!ose of the *rant of the
+enefit.9
Para. 1614 and 161E7 of the $ritten &Statement riled 31 the -ederal (o'ernment in C.P.
%o.E &R of 1990:
9"nder !o-ers #onferred on the President of Pa&istan .ide !ara.2 of the Eifth 2#hedule of the
Constitution $re!rodu#ed a+o.e% the ser.in* Jud*es of Ci*h Court and 2u!re,e Court -ere
allo-ed #ost of li.in* allo-an#e in !ay fro, 1-'-198' !endin* re.ision of rates of !ay.
/herefore, Jud*es retirin* on or after 1-'-198' ha.e +een allo-ed #ost of li.in* allo-an#e in
!ension under the order of the President. Jud*es retired !rior to 1-'-1986 are entitled to !ension
on rates !ro.ided in Eifth 2#hedule and inde0ation on !ension $10N fro, 1-'-1985, (M1M2 N
fro, 1-'-1986, 5N fro, 1-'-198' and 'N fro, 1-'-1988% allo-ed +y the President under !o-er
#onferred on hi,.9
19. At this 1un#ture, it ,ay +e !ertinent to refer to the .arious in#reases ,ade +y the Bo.ern,ent
in the for, of re.ision of salaries and !ensions in res!e#t of #i.il ser.ants and the Jud*es of the
Ci*h CourtsH
$a% /he follo-in* re.isions ha.e +een ,ade in res!e#t of the #i.il ser.antsM!ensionersH--
$i% Ero, 1-'-1966, !ension raised fro, 50N to 60N of a.era*e !ay durin* last (6 ,onths of
ser.i#e.
Einan#e ?i.ision7s <.4. No.<D.2M12M6(-4P$1% dated 18-8-1966.
A44li0a3le to all 4ensioners irres4e0ti'e of date of retirement
$ii% Ne- National Pay 2#ales introdu#ed in 19'2-'( effe#ti.e fro, 1st 4ar#h, 19'2.
$i% 2#hedule ,to Einan#e ?i.ision7s <. 4. No. 1$2%-NB-,!M'1 dated 8-(-19'2.
$ii% Einan#e ?i.ision7s <ffi#e 4e,o. No.E.l $(6% BaF-,! 1M'( dated 18
th
Au*ust, 19'(.
$iii% Pension raised fro, 60N to '0N in Ee+ruary, 19''.
A44li0a3le to all 4ensioners who retired on or after 1 &: &199@
$i.% National Pay 2#ales re.ised in 19''.
Einan#e ?i.ision7s <.4. No.E.l$1%-4P-1M'' dated 28th A!ril, 19''.
$.% Ero, 1-'-1980 #ut off !oint of Rs.1,000 $!ension in e0#ess of Rs.1,000 -as to +e hal.ed%
raised to Rs.2,000.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No. E.6$(%-Re*. $6%M'9 dated 28th June, 1980.
Made a44li0a3le onl1 to 4ensioners who retired after :0 &B &19C0.
$.i% Ero, 1-'-1980, !ensioners -ho retired +efore 1-'-1980 -ere *i.en the follo-in* ad ho#
in#reaseH--
2#ale 1 to 10 Rs. 50 !.,.
2#ale 11 to 16 Rs. '0 !.,.
2#ale 1' to 18 RsH 100 !.,.
2#ale 19 to 20 Rs. 150 !.,
2#ale 21 to 22 Rs. 200 !.,.
Einan#e ?i.ision7s <.4. No.E.6$(%-Re*$6%M'9 dated 28th June, 1980.
$.ii% Ero, 1-'-1981 National Pay 2#ales -ere re.ised raisin* ,a0i,u, in all s#ales and *i.in*
one ad.an#e in#re,ent.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.2$18%-R-(M81 dated 2'th June, 1981.
$.iii% Ero, 1-'-1981 in#rease of 10N of *ross !ension *ranted to !ensioners. $4a0. Rs.200%.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.12$1%-Re*$6%M81 dated 25th July, 1981.
$i0% Ero, 1-'-1982 in#rease of 10N of *ross !ension $4a0. Rs.200% *ranted to !ensioners.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.2$2%-85M82 dated 1'th June, 1982, identi#al in#rease *i.en to
ser.in* offi#ials.
$0% Ero, 1-'-198( National Pay 2#ales re.ised raisin* salaries in so,e #ases +y 50N.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.l$1% 4PM8( dated 18th Au*ust, 198(.
$0i% Ero, 1-'-198( in#rease of 10N $4a0. Rs.200% of *ross !ension *ranted to !ensioners.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.12$1(%-Re*$6%M82$D% dated 18th Au*ust, 198(.
$0ii% Ero, 1-'-198( #ut off !oint -as raised fro, Rs.2,000 to Rs.2,500.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4.No.E.12$1(%-Re*$6%M82$C% dated 18th Au*ust, 198(.
Pensioners who retired 4rior to 1 &9 &19C: were e=0luded.
$0iii% Ero, 1-'-198( #ut off !oint -as a+olished. All !ensioners. irres!e#ti.e of date of
retire,ent, -ere allo-ed to dra- !ension -ithout any redu#tion.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.10$'%-Re*$6%M85 dated 25th June, 1985.
$0i.% Ero, 1-'-1985 #o,,uted .alue of 1M5 of !ension -as restored after #o,!letin* the !eriod
for -hi#h #o,,uted .alue -as !aid. A!!li#a+le to all !ensioners.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.10$8%-Re*$6%M85 dated 25th June, 1985.
$0.% Ero, 1-'-1985 all !ensions inde0ed at the rate of 1.1(5 for !ensions u! to Rs.1,500.
Einan#e ?i.ision7s <ffi#e 4e,o. No.E.l$1%-Re*$6%M85 dated 26-6-1985. denti#al inde0ation
san#tioned for ser.in* offi#ials.
$0.i% Ero, 1-'-1986 !ension allo-ed to +e #al#ulated on last !ay dra-n instead of a.era*e !ay
durin* last 12M(6 ,onths.
A44li0a3le onl1 to 4ensioners retirin/ after :0 B 19CB
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.16$5%-Re*$6%M86 dated 1st July, 1986.
$0.ii% Ero, 1-'-1986 additional +enefit of 2N of !ension for ea#h year of ser.i#e e0#eedin* (0
years su+1e#t to a ,a0i,u, of 10N of !ension san#tioned.
A44li0a3le onl1 to 4ensioners who retired after :0 &B 19CB
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.11$2%-Re*$6%M86, dated 1st July, 1986.
$0.iii% Ero, 1-'-1986 !ensions inde0ed at the rate of 18N for !ensions u! to Rs.1,500 and
1(.5N for !ensions e0#eedin* Rs.1,500.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. N<.R.11-6$A% dated 1-'-1986.
$0i0% Ero, 1-'-198' National Pay 2#ales re.ised a-ardin* in#reases in all 2#ales.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.l$'%M4P.11M8' dated 1-'-198'.
$00% Ero, i-'-198' !ensions inde0ed at the rate of 5N.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.11$5%-8.6M8' dated 1-'-198'.
$00i% Ero, 1-'-1988 ,ini,u, *ross !ension fi0ed at Rs.(00 !.,.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.9$12%Re*$6%M88-A dated 1-'.1988.
$00ii% Ero, 1-'-1988 !ensions inde0ed at the rate of 'N.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.9$10%MRe*$6%M88 dated 1-'-1988.
denti#al inde0ation *ranted to ser.in* offi#ials.
$A!!li#a+le to all !ensioners%.
$00iii% Ero, 1-'-1990 ad ho# relief of 5N of !ension *ranted to !ensioners.
Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. No.E.6$'%MRe*$6%M90 dated 15-'-1990.
$+% /hrou*h the follo-in* President <rdersMnotifi#ations, the re.ision in !ay and !ension of the
Jud*es of the 2u!erior Courts -ere ,ade. 2in#e the dis!ute relates to the !ension of a retired
Ci*h Court Jud*e, referen#e herein +elo- has +een ,ade to re.ision of !ay and !ension of the
Ci*h Court Jud*esH--
$i% Constitution $A,end,ent% <rder, 198(. $P.<.No.5 of 198(%.
/he !ension of a Ci*h Court Jud*e -as re.ised -ith effe#t fro, 1-'-1981, the ,a0i,u, +ein*
raised to Rs.(,600 !er ,onth in !la#e of Rs.1,'50, and ,ini,u, Rs.2,100 in !la#e of Rs.1,000.
$ii% /he Ci*h7-Court Jud*es $)ea.e, Pension and Pri.ile*es% <rder, 198(. $P.<. No.5 of 198(%.
/he a+o.e a,end,ents in the Ci*h Court Jud*es $)ea.e, Pension and Pri.ile*es% <rder, 198(,
-ere ,ade as to *i.e effe#t to the a+o.e Constitutional a,end,ents in the Eifth 2#hedule to the
Constitution +y a+o.e P.<. No.5 of 198(.
$iii% Constitution $A,end,ent% <rder, 1985 $P.<. No.6 of 1985%.
Dy the a+o.e P.<. the salary and the !ension inter alia of the Jud*es of the Ci*h Court -ere
re.ised inas,u#h as for the fi*ure of Rs.5,800, the fi*ure of Rs.',200, for fi*ure Rs.5,000, the
fi*ure Rs.6,500, for the fi*ure Rs.2,100, fi*ure Rs.2,500, and for the fi*ure Rs.(,600, the fi*ure
Rs.5,200, -ere su+stituted.
$i.% Ci*h Court Jud*es $)ea.e, Pension and Pri.ile*es% <rder, 19'0. $P.<. No.1 of 1986%.
/he !ension allo-ed -as inde0ed in relation to the #ost of li.in* at the rate of 1.100 -ith effe#t
fro, 1-'-1985.
$.% Notifi#ation No.E.2$1%M86-A$P/%A, dated (-12-1986.
"nder the latter notifi#ation the !ension -as further inde0ed at the rate of 1.1(5 $in#lusi.e of the
!re.ious inde0ation% -ith effe#t fro, 1-'-1986.
$.i% /he Ci*h Court Jud*es $)ea.e, Pension and Pri.ile*es% $A,end,ent% <rder, 1988. $P.<.
No.5 of 1988%.
Dy this P.<. #ost of li.in* allo-an#e in addition to the !ension -as allo-ed to a Ci*h Court
Jud*e -ho retires on or after the 1st day of July, 198'. "nder the a+o.e P.<. C.)A. ad,issi+le to
a Ci*h Court Jud*e -as Rs.2,650 su+1e#t to the ,a0i,u, a**re*ate a,ount of su#h allo-an#e
and !ension of Rs.6,(00.
$.ii% Notifi#ation No.E.5$2%M88-A% dated 10-10-1988.
"nder the a+o.e notifi#ation, further inde0ation -as allo-ed at the rate of 'N of *ross !ension
-ith effe#t fro, 1-'-1988 to all the Jud*es of the Ci*h Court -ho retired on or +efore
(0-6-1988.
20. A !erusal of the a+o.e-3uoted re.isions indi#ate that the +enefit of the re.isions in the
!ension referred to hereina+o.e at 2. Nos. $i% $iii%, $.i%, $i0%, $0i%, $0iii%, $0i.%, $0.%, $0.iii%, $00%,
$00i%, $00ii% and $00iii% of a+o.e !ara. 19$a% -as e0tended to all the !ensioners irres!e#ti.e of the
date of retire,ent. t ,ay also +e !ointed out that the +enefit of raisin* the a,ount of #ut off
!oint fro, Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000 -ith effe#t fro, 1-'-1980 and fro, Rs.2,000 to Rs.2,5>0 -ith
effe#t fro, 1-8-198( referred to hereina+o.e at 2. Nos. $.% and $0ii% of !ara. 19$a% -as not
e0tended to the !ensioners -ho retired !rior to the a+o.e t-o s!e#ified dates and, therefore, they
#ould ha.e a le*iti,ate *rie.an#e on the *round of dis#ri,ination. Co-e.er, this ano,aly and
the dis#ri,inatory treat,ent -as re#tified +y a+olishin* the #ut off !oint -ith effe#t fro,
1-'-1985 referred to hereina+o.e at 2. No.$0iii% of a+o.e !ara. 19$a%, -hi#h +enefit -as e0tended
to all the !ensioners irres!e#ti.e of the date of retire,ent.
t ,ay also +e noti#ed that -ith effe#t fro, 1-'-1986 an additional +enefit of 2N of !ension for
ea#h year of ser.i#e e0#eedin* (0 years su+1e#t to a ,a0i,u, of 10N !ension san#tioned -as
*i.en to the !ensioners, -ho retired after (0-6-1986 referred to hereina+o.e at 2. No.$0.ii% of
!ara.19$a%. A##ordin* to the list of do#u,ents furnished +y 4r. 2a,dani, this +enefit has not
+een e0tended to the !ensioners -ho retired !rior to 1-'-1986. t ,ay further +e noti#ed that ne-
National Pay 2#ales -ere introdu#ed -ith effe#t fro, 1-(-19'2 and -ere re.ised in A!ril, 19'',
then in June, 1981 -ith effe#t fro, 1-'-1981, then -ith effe#t fro, 1-'-198( and then -ith
effe#t fro, 1-'-198', referred to hereina+o.e at 2erial Nos. $ii%, $i.%, $.ii%, $0% and $0i0%.
8hereas the #ase of the !etitioner in C.P. No.5-R of 1990 is that he has +een *i.en +enefit of all
the a+o.e re.isions e0#e!t that he has +een denied +enefit under P.<. No.5 of 1988, -hi#h
+enefit -as e0tended inter alia to the Ci*h Court Jud*es, -ho retired on or after 1-'-198'.
21. /he ,ain *rie.an#e of the retired #i.il ser.antsM!ensioners, -hi#h has +een #an.assed at the
Dar +y 4r. 2a,dani is that the !ensioners ha.e not +een *i.en the +enefit of the introdu#tion of
ne- National Pay 2#ales -ith effe#t fro, 1-(-19'2 and thereafter its re.ision fro, ti,e to ti,e.
A##ordin* to hi, as the !ension is to +e #o,!uted on the +asis of !ay, any in#rease in !ay s#ales
enhan#es !ension of those !ensioners, -hose !ension is to +e #al#ulated on the +asis of the
re.ised !ay s#ales. Cis further su+,ission -as that sin#e the !ension s#he,e enfor#ed in
Pa&istan is salary related, any re.ision in the !ay s#ales should also +e ,ade a!!li#a+le to the
!ensioners as the reason for re.ision of !ay s#ales in the risin* #ost of li.in* and es#alatin*
inflationary tenden#ies in the e#ono,y and also de#rease in the e#ono,i# .alue of ru!ee, -hi#h
reasons do not affe#t the ser.in* #i.il ser.ants alone, +ut affe#t ,ore ad.ersely the retired #i.il
ser.antsMthe !ensioners. t -as also ur*ed +y hi, that !ro.idin* #ertain date for 3ualifyin* for
#ertain +enefits under the !ension s#he,e is ar+itrary and dis#ri,inatory and is .iolati.e of
Arti#le 25 of the Constitution. A##ordin* to hi,, all the #i.il ser.ants -ho held e3ual ran& and
had e3ual len*th of ser.i#e, should *et sa,e a,ount of !ension irres!e#ti.e of their dates of
retire,ent.
22. <n the other hand, 4r. AFiF A. 4unshi, learned Attorney-Beneral, has su+,itted that there
has not +een any dis#ri,inatory treat,ent in *rantin* +enefits to the !ensioners as to attra#t
Arti#le 25 of the Constitution and that the le*al ri*ht to re#ei.e !ension is relata+le to the date of
retire,ent as !er Ci.il 2er.i#e Re*ulation 5 referred to hereina+o.e in !ara. 18 and that the
re.ision of the !ay s#ales in fa#t is a +enefit *ranted to the ser.in* #i.il ser.ants and not to the
!ensioners.
2(. 4r. 2a,dani has relied u!on the follo-in* !assa*e fro, Cor!ur Juris 2e#undu,, Golu,e
6'H--
9A !ensioner ordinarily has no ri*ht to a s!e#ifi# su,, and the a,ount !aya+le to hi, is su+1e#t
to #han*e, +y -ay of de#rease or in#rease, in a##ordan#e -ith the ran& of the !ensioner at the
ti,e of retire,ent, or in a##ordan#e -ith a #han*e in statute. 8here a !ension statute states that
the !ension shall +e a !er#enta*e of the a.era*e salary atta#hed to the ran& held +y an e,!loyee
+efore retire,ent, it is #onstrued as !ro.idin* for a flu#tuatin* !ension -hi#h in#reases or
de#reases as salaries !aid to a#ti.e e,!loyees in#rease or de#rease.9
/he a+o.e o+ser.ation see,s to +e +ased on the 1ud*,ent in the #ase of Beor*e B. ;i#hel+er*er
et al .. City of Der&eley et al and )e-is 8es#ott .. City of Der&eley et al 56 C. 2d 182@ 29( !.2d
1 de#ided +y an a!!ellate Court of a 2tate of ".2.A. in an a!!eal a*ainst a 1ud*,ent of the
2u!erior Court of Ala,eda County arisin* out of #lai, +rou*ht +y the !ensioners -ho had
ser.ed as fire,en. /he fa#ts -ere that the defendant !assed <rdinan#e NoHS188-N.2. effe#ti.e
fro, A!ril 28, 19(8. t authorised retire,ent and !ension for ,e,+ers of its Eire ?e!art,ent,
-ho had theretofore, ser.ed or -ho thereafter ser.ed for a s!e#ified nu,+er of years. Eor those
retirin*, the !ension -as to +e one-half of the a.era*e salary atta#hed to the ran& or ran&s held
durin* the three years i,,ediately !re#edin* the date of retire,ent and in the #ase of -ido- of a
fire,an &illed in line of duty, the !er#enta*e -as to +e one-third. 2e#tion 25 of that <rdinan#e
!ro.ided that P/he, !ensions *ranted under the ter,s of this <rdinan#e shall not in#rease nor
de#rease -ith any #han*es in salary su+se3uent to the date of the *rantin* of the !ension for the
ran& or ran&s u!on -hi#h the !ension -as +ased nor shall any #han*es of title or ran& in the
a#ti.e ser.i#e affe#t an in#rease or redu#tion in the e0istin* !ension7. Dy a,endin* <rdinan#e
No.2255-N.2. -hi#h #a,e into effe#t fro, 20-5-19(9, the. a+o.e !ortion of the a+o.e se#tion
-hi#h !rohi+ited in#rease or de#rease in the !ension on a##ount of in#rease or de#rease in the
salary, -as deleted. /he 3uestion arose, -hether the !ensioners -ho retired !rior to 20-5-19(9
-ere entitled to the +enefit of the a+o.e a,end,ent. /he a!!ellate Court has held that there -as
no reason not to e0tend the +enefit of the a+o.e a,end,ent to those !ensioners -ho retired !rior
to 20-5-19(9. n#identally ,ay ,ention that in 19H15 a*ain a,end,ents -ere ,ade, -here+y
the !osition o+tainin* !rior to the ena#t,ent of the a+o.e a,endin* <rdinan#e No.2255-N.2.
-as restored as is indi#ated fro, the note *i.en at the +otto, of !a*e 185 of the a+o.e re!ort.
/he reasonin* in the a+o.e 1ud*,ent see,s to +e in line -hi#h a, in#lined to ado!t, na,ely,
that the !ensioners inter se #annot +e dis#ri,inated on the +asis of date of retire,ent.
Ce has also e0tensi.ely referred to and relied u!on the 1ud*,ent of the ndian 2u!re,e Court ,
the #ase of ?.2. Na&ara and others .. "nion of ndia $su!ra%. t ,ay +e !ertinent to refer the fa#ts
of the a+o.e #ase and the #ontro.ersy -hi#h -as the su+1e#t-,atter of the a+o.e de#ision. /he
fa#ts -ere that on 25-5-19'9 the Bo.ern,ent of ndia, 4inistry of Einan#e,, issued an <ffi#e
4e,orandu,, -here+y the for,ula for #o,!utation of !ension -as li+eraliFed +ut ,ade it
a!!li#a+le to Bo.ern,ent ser.ants -ho -ere in ser.i#e on (1-(-19'9 .and retired fro, ser.i#e
on or after that date. /he for,ula introdu#ed a sla+ syste, for #o,!utation of !ension. /he,
a+o.e !ension s#he,e -as also ,ade a!!li#a+le to the defen#e !ersonnel -ho +e#a,eM+e#o,e
non-effe#ti.e on or after 1-5-19'9. Conse3uently those -ho retired !rior to the s!e#ified date,
-ere not entitled to the +enefit under the a+o.e li+eraliFed !ension for,ulaH /he a+o.e a#tion of
the Bo.ern,ent of ndia to #onfine the +enefit of the a+o.e !ension s#he,e to the #i.il
ser.antsMthe defen#e !ersonnel -ho retired after the s!e#ified date, -as i,!u*ned +y so,e
!ensioners as -ell as +y a 2o#iety, re*istered under the 2o#ieties Re*istration A#t, of -hi#h
o+1e#t -as to .entilate le*iti,ate !u+li# !ro+le,s. /he 3uestion +efore the ndian 2u!re,e
Court for #onsideration -as as underH--
9?o !ensioners entitled to re#ei.e su!erannuation or retirin* !ension under Central Ci.il
2er.i#es $Pension% Rules, 19'2 $19'2 Rules for short% for, a #lass as a -holeS s the date of
retire,ent a rele.ant #onsideration for eli*i+ility -hen a re.ised for,ula for #o,!utation of
!ension is ushered in and ,ade effe#ti.e fro, a s!e#ified dateS 8ould differential treat,ent to
!ensioners related to the date of retire,ent 3ua the re.ised for,ula for #o,!utation of !ension
attra#t Art.15 of the Constitution and the ele,ent of dis#ri,ination lia+le to +e de#lared
un#onstitutional as +ein* .iolati.e of Art.15S9
?.A. ?esai, J., -ho deli.ered the 1ud*,ent, after tra#in* the histori#al +a#&*round of the !ension
and its raison d7etre $i.e. reason for +ein* or 1ustifi#ation for e0istin*%, inter alia ,ade the
follo-in* o+ser.ations, on -hi#h 4r. 2a,dani has hea.ily relied u!onH--
9Pro#eedin* further, this Court o+ser.ed that -here all rele.ant #onsiderations are the sa,e,
!ersons holdin* identi#al !osts ,ay not +e treated differently in the ,atter of their !ay ,erely
+e#ause they +elon* to different de!art,ents. f that #an7t +e done -hen they are in ser.i#e, #an
that +e done durin* their retire,entS ;0!andin* this !rin#i!le, one #an #onfidently say that if
!ensioners for, a #lass, their #o,!utation #annot +e +y different for,ula affordin* une3ual
treat,ent solely on the *round that so,e retired earlier and so,e retired later.9
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9No- if !ension as -e .ie- it, is so,e &ind of retire,ent -a*es for !ast ser.i#e, #an it +e denied
to those -ho retired earlier, re.ised retire,ent +enefits +ein* a.aila+le to-future retirees only.
/herefore, there is no su+stan#e in the #ontention that the Court +y its a!!roa#h -ould +e
,a&in* the s#he,e retroa#ti.e, +e#ause it is i,!li#it in theory of -a*es.9
/he ndian 2u!re,e Court #on#luded that the Bo.ern,ent of ndia7s de#ision of introdu#in* an
ar+itrary eli*i+ility #riteria@ P+ein* in ser.i#e and retirin* su+se3uent to the s!e#ified date7 for
+ein* eli*i+le for the li+eraliFed !ension s#he,e, -as .iolati.e of Arti#le 15 of the ndian
Constitution $-hi#h #orres!onds to Arti#le 25 of the Constitution%. t -as further held that the
+enefit of the a+o.e li+eraliFed s#he,e -ould +e a.aila+le to all the - !ensioners on the date of
its enfor#e,ent irres!e#ti.e of the date of retire,ent.
25. C ,ay +e o+ser.ed that e.en fro, the a+o.e 3uoted e0tra#t fro, the Cor!us Juris
2e#undu,, Golu,e 6' referred to hereina+o.e in !ara 2(, it is e.ident that the ri*ht and e0tent
of the !ension a,ount de!ends on the lan*ua*e of the rele.ant statute or the rules fra,ed there-
under. n order to lin& re.ision of !ension a,ount -ith the re.ision of !ay s#ales, there should +e
a statutory !ro.ision to that effe#t. /he Ci.il 2er.ants A#t does not #ontain any su#h !ro.ision,
in the #ontrary, se#tion 19 of the latter A#t e0!ressly !ro.ides that on retire,ent fro, ser.i#e, a
#i.il ser.ant shall +e entited to re#ei.e su#h !ension or *ratuity as ,ay +e !res#ri+ed. /he a+o.e
entitle,ent has +een !res#ri+ed in the for, of the aforesaid C.2.R. 5, -hi#h inter alia lays do-n
that an offi#er7s #lai, to !ay and allo-an#es is re*ulated +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e in
res!e#t of -hi#h the !ay and allo-an#es are earned@ to lea.e +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e the
lea.e is a!!lied for and *ranted@ and to !ension +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e -hen the
offi#er resins or is dis#har*ed fro, the ser.i#e of Bo.ern,ent $"nderlinin* is of ours%. n this
.ie- of the ,atter, the !rin#i!le enun#iated in the a+o.e 3uoted !assa*e fro, Cor!us Juris
2e#undu,, Golu,e 6', is not a!!li#a+le to the !resent #ase. /he a+o.e 1ud*,ent of the ndian
2u!re,e Court also does not lay do-n the !ro!osition that if !ay s#ales of ser.in* #i.il ser.ants
are re.ised, the !ension of the #i.il ser.ants -ho ha.e already retired +y then, is to +e
re#o,!uted on the +asis of the re.ised !ay s#ales. /he ratio of the a+o.e #ited #ase see,s to +e
that !ensioners as a -hole are one #lass and are entitled to +e treated ali&e and any
dis#ri,inatory treat,ent +y s!e#ifyin* a 3ualifyin* date, is .iolati.e of Arti#le 15 of the ndian
Constitution. /o reinfor#e the a+o.e #on#lusion, it has +een hi*hli*hted that the !ersons holdin*
identi#al !osts ha.in* sa,e len*th of ser.i#e, #annot +e dis#ri,inated -hile in ser.i#e, then ho-
they #an +e dis#ri,inated on the +asis of date of retire,ent u!on retire,ent. 4r. 2a,dani has
#andidly #on#eded that it is so, +ut su+,itted that this Court should +rea& a ne- *round +y
lin&in* re.ision of !ension -ith the re.ision of !ay s#ales. n our .ie-, a ne- *round or a ne-
a.enue #an +e e0!lored on the +asis of so,e le*al !rin#i!le and not ,erely on the *round -hat
a!!ears to +e 1ust and e3uita+le.
25. As !ointed out hereina+o.e earlier that the #ase of the !etitioners is not 7founded on the
*round of .iolation of any !ro.ision of the Ci.il 2er.ants A#t or the rele.ant statutory rules +ut
is *rounded on the .iolation of Arti#le 25 of the Constitution. t -ould, therefore, +e
ad.anta*eous to re!rodu#e here in +elo- the a+o.e Arti#le, -hi#h reads as follo-sH--
925. $1% All #itiFens are e3ual +efore la- and are entitled to e3ual !rote#tion of la-.
$2% /here shall +e no dis#ri,ination on the +asis of se0 alone.
$(% Nothin* in. this Arti#le shall !re.ent the 2tate fro, ,a&in* any s!e#ial !ro.ision for the
!rote#tion of -o,en and #hildren.9
t ,ay +e noti#ed that a+o.e-3uoted #lause $1% enshrines the +asi# #on#e!t of reli*ion of sla,.
Co-e.er, this is no- &no-n as the *olden !rin#i!le of 4odern Juris!ruden#e, -hi#h en1oins that
all #itiFens are e3ual +efore la- and are entitled to e3ual !rote#tion of la-. /he a+o.e #lause
#orres!onds to 15th Constitutional A,end,ent of the A,eri#an Constitution, -hi#h inter alia
!ro.ides that Pno 2tate shall deny to any !erson -ithin its 1urisdi#tion the e3ual !rote#tion of la-7
Co-e.er, the a+o.e #lause does not !rohi+it treat,ent of #itiFens +y a 2ta*e on the +asis of a
reasona+le #lassifi#ation. /he 3uestion, therefore, arises -hat should +e the +asis or #riterion for
#lassifi#ation as to a.ert .iolation of the a+o.e #lause. n this re*ard, it ,ay +e !ertinent to refer
the follo-in* #ases of this Court and of the ndian 2u!re,e CourtH--
$i% Dri*. $Retd.% E.D. Ali and another .. /he 2tate P ) ? 19'5 2C 506@
in -hi#h this Court #onsidered the s#o!e of Eunda,ental Ri*ht No.15 of the late Constitution of
1962 in #onte0t -ith Arti#le 25 of the Constitution and Ca,oodur Reh,an, C.J. -ho deli.ered
the leadin* 1ud*,ent, ,ade the follo-in* o+ser.ationsH--
9;3ual !rote#tion of the la-s does not ,ean that e.ery #itiFen, no ,atter -hat his #ondition,
,ust +e treated in the sa,e ,anner. /he !hrase Pe3ual !rote#tion7 of the la-s ,eans that no
!erson or #lass of !ersons shall +e denied the sa,e !rote#tion of la-s -hi#h is en1oyed +y other
!ersons or other #lass of !ersons in li&e #ir#u,stan#es in res!e#t of their life, li+erty, !ro!erty, or
!ursuits of ha!!iness. /his only ,eans that !ersons, si,ilarly situated or in si,ilar
#ir#u,stan#es, -ill +e treated in the sa,e ,anner. Desides this, all la- i,!lies #lassifi#ation,
f6r, -hen it a!!lies for7 a set of #ir#u,stan#es, it #reates there+y a #lass and e3ual !rote#tion
,eans that this #lassifi#ation should +e reasona+le. /o 1ustify the .alidity of a #lassifi#ation, it
,ust +e sho-n that it is +ased on reasona+le distin#tions or that it is on reasona+le +asis and rests
on a real or su+stantial differen#e of distin#tion. /hus different la-s an .alidly +e ,ade for
different se0es, for !ersons in different a*e *rou!s e.*. ,inors or .ery old !eo!le@ different ta0es
,ay +e le.ied fro, different #lasses of !ersons on the +asis of their a+ility to !ay. 2i,ilarly,
#o,!ensation for !ro!erties a#3uired ,ay +e !aid at different rates to different #ate*ories of
o-ners. 2u#h differentiation ,ay also +e ,ade on the +asis of o##u!ations or !ri.ile*es or the
s!e#ial needs of a !arti#ular lo#ality or a !arti#ular #o,,unity. ndeed the +ul& of the s!e#ial
la-s ,ade to ,eet s!e#ial situations #o,e -ithin this #ate*ory. /hus, in the field of #ri,inal
1usti#e, a #lassifi#ation ,ay -ell +e ,ade on the +asis of the heinousness of the #ri,e #o,,itted
or the ne#essity of !re.entin* #ertain anti-so#ial effe#ts of a !arti#ular #ri,e. Chan*es in
!ro#edure ,ay e3ually -ell +e effe#ted on the *round of the se#urity of the 2tate, ,aintenan#e
of !u+li# order, re,o.al of #orru!tion fro, a,on*st !u+li# ser.ants or for ,eetin* an
e,er*en#y.9
$ii% sla,i# Re!u+li# of Pa&istan throu*h 2e#retary, 4inistry of nterior and Aash,ir Affairs,
sla,a+ad .. A+dul 8ali Ahan, 4.NA. for,er President of ?efun#t National A-a,i Party P )
? 19'6 2C 5'@
n the a+o.e #ase, Ca,oodur Reh,an, CJ. -hile dealin* -ith the referen#e ,ade +y the
Bo.ern,ent a*ainst the National A-a,i Party, tou#hed u!on the 3uestion of e3ual !rote#tion of
la- and ,ade the follo-in* o+ser.ationsH-
9 ....8hat is unreasona+le in one *i.en set of #ir#u,stan#es ,ay -ell +e reasona+le in another
different set of #ir#u,stan#es. n order to test the reasona+leness of su#h restri#tions, therefore,
no *eneral standard e0ists. t -ill de!end u!on a .ariety of #ir#u,stan#es in#ludin* the interest
and ur*en#y of the a#tion !ro!osed and the nature of the safe*uard, if any, !ro.ided to !re.ent
!ossi+ilities of a+use of !o-er. /he in.est,ent of ar+itrary !o-er in the e0e#uti.e to !ut to an
end to the e0isten#e of a !oliti#al !arty on the +asis of its o-n satisfa#tion -hi#h ,ay or ,ay not
+e #a!a+le of +ein* !ro.ed in a Court of )a- ,ay -ell +e an unreasona+le restri#tion ha.in*
re*ard to the i,!ortan#e of the ri*ht of asso#iation *uaranteed +y the Constitution. /he
safe*uard that su#h a de#laration +y the ;0e#uti.e -ill +e su+1e#t to the de#ision of the 2u!re,e
Court is, ho-e.er, a suffi#ient safe*uard of the interest of the !oliti#al !arty and ade3uately
!rote#ts it fro, +ein* dealt -ith either ar+itrarily or -hi,si#ally or out of !oliti#al .en*ean#e.
/his #an, in no sense, +e #onsidered to +e an unreasona+le restri#tionH7
$iii% 4st. AFiF De!u, and others .. Eederation of Pa&istan and others P ) ? 1990 2C 899@
in -hi#h, this Court has dilated u!on Arti#le 25 of the Constitution and o+ser.ed as follo-sH--
9Arti#le 25. also is 5,>t attra#ted to the #lai, ,ade +y the !etitioners in the Constitution !etition.
t relates to e3uality of #itiFens +efore la- and the e3uality en1oined +y the Constitution !er,its
reasona+le #lassifi#ation and the ad1udi#ation +y the 2hariat A!!ellate Den#h, re#o*nises and
*i.es effe#t to the #ate*ories -here the ri*hts are to +e !rote#ted as a #lass and not so !rote#ted
as a #lass. /here is no ele,ent of dis#ri,ination or ar+itrariness in the sa,e. /he de#ision
follo-s an ela+orate line of reasonin* for *i.in* effe#t to or for de#larin* a !ortion of the la- or
the -hole of it re!u*nant to the n1un#tions of sla,.9
$i.% 2hrin 4unir and others .. Bo.ern,ent of Pun1a+ throu*h 2e#retary Cealth, )ahore and
another P ) ? 1990 2C 295@
n the a+o.e #ase this Court, -hile de#larin* reser.ation of lesser seats for *irls in 4edi#al
Colle*es of Pun1a+ as #o,!ared to +oys as .iolati.e of Arti#le 25 of the Constitution, o+ser.ed
as follo-s as to reasona+le #lassifi#ationH---
91'. /he har,ony and the #onsisten#y +et-een Arti#le 25 and Arti#le 22 of the Constitution is
o+.ious not-ithstandin* the *enerality of the one and the !arti#ularity of the other, only if -e
&ee! this i,!ortant fa#t in .ie- that P#lassifi#ation +ased on intelli*i+le and reasona+le standards
is !er,issi+le -ithin the fra,e-or& of Arti#le 25 on the *round of se0 and se0 alone. f in
Arti#le 22 the -ord Pse07 had also +een introdu#ed then there -ould na.e o##urred a #onfli#t
instead of #onsisten#y +et-een Arti#le 25.and Arti#le 22 inas,u#h as the #lassifi#ation
!er,issi+le under Arti#le 25 -ould ha.e +e#o,e i,!er,issi+le in edu#ational institutions -ith
re*ard to ad,ission therein. /he *irls -ould ha.e sou*ht ad,ission in institutions e0#lusi.ely
reser.ed for +oys and the +oys -ould ha.e sou*ht ad,ission in institutions reser.ed e0#lusi.ely
for *irls unless it -as sho-n as a fa#t that the institution for *irls -as &e!t e0#lusi.e for the
!ur!ose of and -ithin the li,itation of #lause $(% of Arti#le 25. As the t-o Arti#les 25 and 22
stand at !resent, the *eneral rule is that Pse07 #annot +e7 ado!ted as the sole #riteria for
dis#ri,ination e0#e!t for ad.an#in* the #ause of -o,en and #hildren as !er,itted +y #lause $(%
of Arti#le 25. <n that !rin#i!le of reasona+le and intelli*i+le #lassifi#ation it is !ossi+le to ha.e
edu#ational institutions e0#lusi.ely #aterin* to the needs of the ,ale !o!ulation land also
edu#ational institutions #aterin* e0#lusi.ely the fe,ale !o!ulation in our #onte0t and in our
so#iety. Co-e.er, -hen an edu#ational institution is thro-n o!en for #o-edu#ation, as has +een
done in the #ase of si0 ,edi#al institutions e0#ludin* Eati,a Jinnah 4edi#al Colle*e, then a
further restri#tion of nu,+ers on the *round of se0 is !er,issi+le only as a !rote#ti.e ,easure of
-o,en and #hildren +ut in no #ase so as to !rote#t #o,!arati.ely less ,eritorious +oys to the
!re1udi#e and e0#lusion of -o,en. /his a,ounts to *ross .iolation of #onstitutional ,andateH7
$.% Charan1it )al Cho-dhury .. /he "nion of ndia and <thers $A R 1951 2C 51%@
in -hi#h EaFl A) J. of the ndian 2u!re,e #ourt, -hile dealin* -ith Arti#le 15 of the ndian
Constitution, ,ade the follo-in* o+ser.ationsH-
9Ca.in* su,,ed u! the la- in this -ay, the sa,e learned author addsH
94any different #lassifi#ations of !ersons ha.e +een u!held as #onstitutional. A la- a!!lyin* to
one !erson or one #lass of !ersons is #onstitutional if there is suffi#ient +asis or reason for it.-
/here #an +e no dou+t that Arti#le 15 !ro.ides one of the ,ost .alua+le and i,!ortant
*uarantees in the Constitution -hi#h should not +e allo-ed to +e -hittled do-n, and, -hile
a##e!tin* the state,ent of Professor 8illis as a #orre#t e0!osition of the !rin#i!les underlyin*
this *uarantee, -ish to lay !arti#ular e,!hasis on the !rin#i!le enun#iated +y hi, that any
#lassifi#ation -hi#h is ar+itrary and -hi#h is ,ade -ithout any +asis is no #lassifi#ation and a
!ro!er #lassifi#ation ,ust al-ays rest u!on so,e differen#e and ,ust +ear a reasona+le and -1ust
relation to the thin*s in res!e#t of -hi#h it is !ro!osed.9
$.i% 2hri Ra, Arishna ?al,ia and others .. 2hri Justi#e 2.R. Rendol&ar and others $A..R.1958
2.C. 5(8%@
n the a+o.e #ase@ the ndian 2u!re,e Court re!elled the #ontention that the referen#e ,ade +y
the Bo.ern,ent for holdin* en3uiry a*ainst the a!!ellant-#o,!any under se#tion ( of the
Co,,issions of ;n3uiry A#t, 1952, -as .iolati.e of Arti#le 15 of the ndian Constitution.
$.ii% /he Anant 4ills Co. )td. .. 2tate of Bu1arat and others I$19'5% 2 2 C C 1'5%@
n the a+o.e #ase se#tion 506$2% $e% of the Do,+ay 4uni#i!al Cor!oration A#t, -hi#h -as
a,ended +y Bu1arat A#t No.5 of 19'0, and -hi#h !ro.ided ,a&in* de!osit of the ta0 a,ount in
dis!ute as a !re#ondition for filin* of an a!!eal, -as i,!u*ned as +ein* .iolati.e of Arti#le 15
+ut the ndian 2u!re,e Court held that it -as not so and that the !ro.ision has not the effe#t of
,a&in* in.idious distin#tion or #reatin* t-o #lasses -ith the o+1e#t of ,etin* out differential
treat,ent to the, +ut it only s!elled out the #onse3uen#es flo-in* fro, the o,ission and default
of a !erson.
$.iii% 2tate of Aerala and anoth8r .. N.4. /ho,as and others I$19'6% 2 2 C C (10%@
n the a+o.e #ase inter alia the 3uestion +efore the ndian 2u!re,e Court -as, -hether a rule
-hir !ro.ides that *i.en the ne#essary re3uisite ,erit, a ,e,+er of the +a#&-ard #lass shall *et
!riority to ensure ade3uate re!resentation, -as .iolati.e of Arti#les 15 and 16 of the ndian
Constitution. t -as held that the #lassifi#ation of e,!loyees +elon*in* to s#heduled #astes and
s#heduled tri+es for allo-in* the, as e0tended !eriod of t-o years for !assin* the s!e#ified test
for !ro,otion is a 1ust and reasona+le #lassifi#ation ha.in* rationale ne0us to the o+1e#t of
!ro.idin* e3ual o!!ortunity for all #itiFens in ,atters relatin* to e,!loy,ent or a!!oint,ent of
!u+li# offi#e.
$i0% n reH 2!e#ial Courts Dill, 19'8 $2!e#ial Referen#e No.l of 19'8% $A R 19'9 2C 5'8%H
n the a+o.e #ase also inter alia Arti#le 15 of the ndian Constitution 7-as the su+1e#t-,atter
+efore the ndian 2u!re,e Court. n this re*ard, the follo-in* o+ser.ations are !ertinentH-
5. /he !rin#i!le underlyin* the *uarantee of Arti#le 15 is not that the sa,e rules of la- should +e
a!!li#a+le to all !ersons -ithin the ndian territory or that the sa,e re,edies should +e ,ade
a.aila+le to the, irres!e#ti.e of differen#es of #ir#u,stan#es. t only ,eans that all !ersons
si,ilarly #ir#u,stan#ed shall +e treated ali&e +oth in !ri.ile*es #onferred and lia+ilities i,!osed.
;3ual la-s -ould ha.e to +e a!!lied to all in the sa,e situation, and there should +e no
dis#ri,ination +et-een one !erson and another if as re*ards the su+1e#t-,atter of the le*islation
their !osition is su+stantially the sa,e.9
$0% A1ay Casia et#. .. Ahalid 4u1i+ 2ehra.ardi and others $A R 1981 2C 58'%@
in -hi#h the 3uestion -as, -hether the !ro#edure ado!ted +y the 2o#iety for *rantin* ad,ission
to its edu#ational institutions not to ta&e into a##ount ,ar&s o+tained +y the #andidate in the
3ualifyin* e0a,ination +ut to re*ulate ad,ission +y relyin* on entran#e test -as .iolati.e of
Arti#le 15 of the ndian Constitution, it -as held it -as not so. Co-e.er, it -as also held that
allo#ation of a hi*h !er#enta*e as ((-1M( of the total ,ar&s for the oral inter.ie-, -as ar+itrary
and #onse3uently, allo#ation of ,ore than 15N ,ar&s -as stru#& do-n as #onstitutionally
in.alid.
$0i% ?.2. Na&ara and others .. "nion of ndia $A..R. 198( 2.C. 1(0%@
in -hi#h the ndian 2u!re,e Court ,ade the follo-in* o+ser.ation as to the reasona+le
#lassifi#ation -ith referen#e to Arti#le 15 of the ndian ConstitutionH-
9/he funda,ental !rin#i!le is that Art. 15 for+ids #lass le*islation +ut !er,its reasona+le
#lassifi#ation for the !ur!ose of le*islation -hi#h #lassifi#ation ,ust satisfy the t-in tests of
#lassifi#ation +ein* founded on an intelli*i+le differentia -hi#h distin*uishes !ersons or thin*s
that are *rou!ed to*ether fro, those that are left out of the *rou! and that differentia ,ust ha.e a
rational ne0us to the o+1e#t sou*ht to +e a#hie.ed +y a statute in 3uestion.9
26. Ero, the a+o.e #ited #ases the follo-in* !rin#i!les of la- are dedu#i+leH-
$i% that e3ual !rote#tion of la- does not en.isa*e that e.ery #itiFen is to +e treated ali&e in all
#ir#u,stan#es, +ut it #onte,!lates that !ersons si,ilarly situated or si,ilarly !la#ed are to +e
treated ali&e@
$ii% that reasona+le #lassifi#ation is !er,issi+le +ut it ,ust +e founded on reasona+le distin#tion
or reasona+le +asis@
$iii% that different la-s #an .alidly +e ena#ted for different se0es, !ersons in different a*e *rou!s,
!ersons ha.in* different finan#ial standin*s, and !ersons a##used of heinous #ri,es@
$i.% that no standard of uni.ersal a!!li#ation to test reasona+leness of a #lassifi#ation #an +e laid
do-n as -hat ,ay +e reasona+le #lassifi#ation in a !arti#ular set of #ir#u,stan#es, ,ay +e
unreasona+le in the other set of #ir#u,stan#es@
$.% that a la- a!!lyin* to one !erson or one #lass of !ersons ,ay +e #onstitutionally .alid if
there is suffi#ient +asis or reason for it, +ut a #lassifi#ation -hi#h is ar+itrary and is not founded
on any rational +asis is no #lassifi#ation as to -arrant its e0#lusion fro, the ,is#hief of Arti#le
25H-
$.i% that e3ual !rote#tion of la- ,eans that all !ersons e3ually !la#ed +e treated ali&e +oth in
!ri.ile*es #onferred and lia+ilities i,!osed@
$.ii% that in order to ,a&e a #lassifi#ation reasona+le, it should +e +ased--
$a% on an intelli*i+le differentia -hi#h distin*uishes !ersons or thin*s that are *rou!ed to*ether
fro, those -ho ha.e +een left out@
$+% that the differentia ,ust ha.e rational ne0us to the o+1e#t sou*ht to +e a#hie.ed +y su#h
#lassifi#ation.
2'. /he learned Attorney-Beneral has also referred in e0tenso #ertain !assa*es fro, G.N.
2hu&la7s Constitution of ndia, 'th ;dition. 2uffi#e to refer a !assa*e -herein the learned author
has inferred follo-in* !rin#i!les as to #lassifi#ation -ith referen#e to .arious 1ud*,ents of the
ndian 2u!re,e Court on Arti#le 15 of the ndian ConstitutionH-
9$a% A la- ,ay +e #onstitutional e.en thou*h it relates to a sin*le indi.idual if, on a##ount of
so,e s!e#ial #ir#u,stan#es, or reasons a!!li#a+le to hi, and not a!!li#a+le to others, that sin*le
indi.idual ,ay +e treated as a #lass +y hi,self.
$+% /here is al-ays a !resu,!tion in fa.our of the #onstitutionality of an ena#t,ent and the
+urden is u!on hi, -ho atta#&s it to sho- that there has +een a #lear trans*ression of the
#onstitutional !rin#i!les. /he !erson, therefore, -ho !leads that Arti#le 15 $#orres!ondin* to Art.
25 of Pa&istan Constitution% has +een .iolated, ,ust ,a&e out that not only has he +een treated
differently fro, others +ut he has +een so treated fro, !ersons si,ilarly #ir#u,stan#ed -ithout
any reasona+le +asis and su#h differential treat,ent ha* +een un1ustifia+ly ,ade. Co-e.er, it is
e0tre,ely haFardous to de#ide the 3uestion of the #onstitutional .alidity of a !ro.ision on the
+asis of the su!!osed e0isten#e of fa#ts +y raisin* a !resu,!tion. Presu,!tions are resorted to
-hen the ,atter does not ad,it of dire#t !roof or -hen there is so,e !ra#ti#al diffi#ulty to
!rodu#e e.iden#e to !ro.e a !arti#ular fa#t.
$#% t ,ust +e !resu,ed that the )e*islature understands and #orre#tly a!!re#iates the need of its
o-n !eo!le, that its la-s are dire#ted to !ro+le,s ,ade ,anifest +y e0!erien#e, and that its
dis#ri,inations are +ased on ade3uate *rounds.
$d% /he )e*islature is free to re#o*nise the de*rees of har, and ,ay #onfine its restri#tion to
those #ases -here the need is dee,ed to +e the #learest.
$e% n order to sustain the !resu,!tion of #onstitutionality, the Court ,ay ta&e into #onsideration
,atters of #o,,on &no-led*e, ,atters of #o,,on re!ort, the history of the ti,es and ,ay
assu,e e.ery state of fa#ts -hi#h #an +e #on#ei.ed e0istin* at the ti,e of le*islation.
$f% 8hile *ood faith and &no-led*e of the e0istin* #onditions on the !art of the )e*islature are
to +e !resu,ed, if there is nothin* on the fa#e of the la- or the surroundin* #ir#u,stan#es
+rou*ht to the noti#e of the Court on -hi#h the #lassifi#ation ,ay reasona+ly +e re*arded as
+ased, the !resu,!tion of the #onstitutionality #annot +e #arried to the e0tent of al-ays holdin*
that there ,ust +e so,e undis#losed and un&no-n reasons for su+1e#tin* #ertain indi.iduals or
#or!orations to hostile or dis#ri,inatin* le*islation.
$*% A #lassifi#ation need not +e s#ientifi#ally !erfe#t or lo*i#ally #o,!lete.
$h% /he .alidity of a rule has to +e 1ud*ed +y assessin* its o.erall effe#t and not +y !i#&in* u!
e0#e!tional #ases. 8hat the Court has to see is -hether the #lassifi#ation ,ade is a 1ust one
ta&in* all as!e#ts into #onsideration.9
28. /he 3uestion -hi#h re3uires #onsideration is, as to -hether in the instant #ases #lassifi#ation
is founded on an intelli*i+le differentia -hi#h distin*uishes one *rou! of !ensioners fro, others
and -hether the a+o.e differentia has rational ne0us to the o+1e#t or raison d7etre sou*ht to +e
a#hie.ed. A##ordin* to 4r. 2a,da,, #i.il ser.ants -ho ha.e already retired and -ho -ill retire
in future should +e treated as a #lass and that there #annot +e any su+-#lassifi#ation -ithin the
a+o.e #lass on the +asis of date of retire,ent, as it -ould not fall -ithin !er,issi+le reasona+le
#lassifi#ation. <n the other hand, 4r. AFiF A. 4unshi learned Attorney-Beneral, has ur*ed that
.arious *rou!s of !ensioners are to +e #lassified on the +asis of a!!li#a+ility of rele.ant !ension
rules. 8e are una+le to su+s#ri+e to 4r. 2a,dani7s a+o.e su+,ission that #i.il ser.ants -ho
ha.e already retired and -ho -ill retire in future, are to +e treated as one #lass nor -e are
in#lined to a*ree -ith the a+o.e su+,ission of the learned Attorney-Beneral. n our .ie-,
reasona+le #lassifi#ation -ill +e that all the !ensioners as a *rou! are to +e treated as one #lass
and all ser.in* #i.il ser.ants as a *rou! are to +e treated as a se!arate #lass. n this .ie- of the
,atter, if the !ay s#ales of ser.in* #i.il ser.ants are re.ised, the #i.il ser.ants, -ho ha.e +y then
already retired #annot ha.e any le*iti,ate *rie.an#e to a*itate for notional re.ision of their !ay
s#ales for re-#o,!utin* their !ension a,ounts for any !ur!ose as the !ension a,ount is to +e
#o,!uted as a+o.e C.2.R. 5 on the +asis of the !ension rules in for#e on the date of retire,ent of
a #i.il ser.ant. /he !ension rules #ontain for,ula as to the ,ethod of #o,!utation of !ension
a,ount -ith referen#e to the salary dra-n +y hi, till the date of retire,ent and, therefore, there
#annot +e unifor,ity in the a,ounts of !ension a,on* the #i.il ser.ants des!ite of ha.in* e3ual
ran& and e3ual len*th of ser.i#e, if they retire not on one date +ut on different dates and
in-+et-een su#h dates !ay s#ales are re.ised. Co-e.er, a !ensioner ,ay ha.e a le*iti,ate
*rie.an#e if he is not treated ali&e -ith the other !ensioners, for e0a,!le, if the
)e*islatureMBo.ern,ent in#reases !ension a,ount +y 10N, say on 1-1-1991, +ut !ro.ides that
this +enefit -ill +e a.aila+le to those !ensioners -ho ha.e retired on or after 1-1-1989. n other
-ords, the !ensioners -ho had retired !rior to 1-1-1989 are de!ri.ed of the a+o.e +enefit. /his
-ould +e .iolati.e of Arti#le 25 of the Constitution unelss the Bo.ern,ent #an de,onstrate that
the a+o.e su+-#lassifi#ation -ithin the #lass of !ensioners is +ased on an intelli*i+le differentia
and that the latter has rational ne0us to the o+1e#t sou*ht to +e a#hie.ed +y the rele.ant
#lassifi#ation under the statute or statutory rule.
29. /he 3uestion, -hether a s!e#&ed date #an +e the +asis of #lassifi#ation, has +een the
su+1e#t-,atter of 1udi#ial !ronoun#e,ents. n this re*ard, it ,ay +e !ertinent to refer to the
follo-in* #asesH--
$i% ?.R. Ni, .. "nion of ndia $A R 196' 2C 1(01%@
in -hi#h the ndian 2u!re,e Court, -hile #onstruin* Rule ( of the ndian Poli#e 2er.i#e
$Re*ulation of 2eniority% Rules, 1955, held that date of 19-5-1951 fi0ed +y the Bo.ern,ent for
re#&onin* the ser.i#e of !ro,oted ndian Poli#e <ffi#ers -as in.alid sin#e the sa,e had nothin*
to do -ith the a!!li#ation of R.( $(% !ro.isos 1 and 2 of the a+o.e Re*ulation.
$ii% Jaila 2in*h and another .. 2tate of Ra1asthan and others $A R 19'5 2C 15(6%@
n the a+o.e #ase, the ndian 2u!re,e Court, -hile #onstruin* Condition No.( of the Ra1asthan
Colonisation $Ra1asthan Canal Pro1e#t% -hi#h !ro.ided that !re-1955 tenants -ould +e entitled
to the allot,ent of ,ore land as #o,!ared to the !ost-1955 te,!orary tenants, held that the
differen#e in the !eriod of o##u!ation +et-een !re-1955 and !ost-1955 tenants is not of su#h an
e0tent as to 1ustify allot,ent of lar*er e0tent of land to the !re-1955 tenants than to the !ost-1955
tenants nor for the dis#ri,ination a,on* !re-1955 tenants +et-een those holdin* ,ore than 25
+i*has and those holdin* less than 25 +i*has.
$iii% /he referen#e to the #ase of ?.2. Na&ara and others .. "nion of ndia $su!ra% ,ay a*ain +e
,ade as in the a+o.e #ase, the ndian 2u!re,e Court has inter alia held that the Bo.ern,ent
a#tion to s!e#ify a date for 3ualifyin* for the +enefit under the sla+ !ension s#he,e -as ar+itrary
and un#onstitutional as it -as not #o.ered +y reasona+le #lassifi#ation.
$i.% "nion of ndia and another .. 4essrs Para,es-aran 4at#h 8or&s et#. $A..R. 19'5 2.C.
2(59%@
n the a+o.e #ase, the ndian 2u!re,e Court -as #onsiderin* the .ires of a notifi#ation issued
under Rule 8 of the Central ;0#ise Rules $1955% !ro.idin* for #on#essional rate of duty on ,at#h
+o0es only to those ,anufa#turers -ho had filed de#larations as re3uired +y the a+o.e !ro.iso
+efore 5-9-196'. t -as held that the #hoi#e of the a+o.e date for *rantin* #on#essional rate of
duty -as not dis#ri,inatory as to .iolate Arti#le 15 of the Constitution as the !ur!ose of the
notifi#ation -as to !re.ent the lar*er units -ho -ere !rodu#in* and #learin* ,ore than 100
,illions ,at#hes in the finan#ial year 196'-68 and -hi#h #ould not ha.e filed the de#larations,
fro, s!littin* u! into s,aller units in order to a.ail of the #on#essional rate of duty +y ,a&in*
de#larations su+se3uently. t -as further held that the #hoi#e of a date as a +asis for #lassifi#ation
#annot al-ays +e du++ed as ar+itrary e.en if no !arti#ular reason is forth#o,in* for the #hoi#e
unless it is sho-n to +e #a!ri#ious or -hi,si#al in the #ir#u,stan#es.
$.% ?.B. Bouse 6 Co. $A*ents% P.t. )td. .. 2tate of Aerala and another $A R 1980 2C 2'1%@
n the a+o.e #ase, the 3uestion +efore the ndian 2u!re,e Court -as, -hether the #hoi#e of
1-5-19'( as the date for i,!osition of ta0 under the Aerala Duildin* /a0 A#t $' of 19'5% -as
dis#ri,inatory and .iolati.e of Arti#le 15 of the ndian Constitution. /he ndian 2u!re,e Court
reiterated the !rin#i!le enun#iated +y it in the a+o.e #ase of "nion of ndia and another ..
4essrs Para,es-aran 4at#h 8or&s et#. referred to hereina+o.e at 2. No. $i.% and held that in
.ie- of the fa#tual as!e#t of the #ase referred to therein, the a+o.e dote -as not dis#ri,inatory
as to .iolate Arti#le 15 of the ndian Constitution.
(0. t ,ay +e stated that as a *eneral !ro!osition it #annot +e laid do-n that in no #ase a
s!e#ified date #an +e ,ade +asis for #lassifi#ation. t -ill de!end 5n the fa#ts of ea#h #ase and if
the s!e#ifi#ation of a !arti#ular date is +ased on an intelli*i+le differentia, -hi#h in turn has
ne0us to the o+1e#t for -hi#h the rele.ant statute has +een ena#ted, su#h #lassifi#ation -ill +e
le*al and .alid +ut if the s!e#ifi#ation of a date is ar+itrary or -hi,si#al, it #annot +e ,ade +asis
for #lassifi#ation as has +een held in the a+o.e #ase of ?.2. Na&ara and others .. "nion of ndia
$su!ra% +y the ndian 2u!re,e Court. Eurther,ore, a distin#tion is to +e dra-n +et-een a #ase in
-hi#h a date is s!e#ified for the !ur!ose of 3ualifyin* for #ertain +enefit under #ertain
ena#t,entMs#he,e and a date -hi#h ,ay +e s!e#ified for the enfor#e,ent of a !arti#ular /a0in*
2tatute or a notifi#ation *rantin* #ertain #on#ession fro, !ay,ent of ta0es and e0#ise duty. n
our .ie-, the for,er #ate*ory should !ass the test of reasona+le #lassifi#ation, -hereas for the
latter #ate*ory, there is no su#h re3uire,ent as the )e*islature or the Bo.ern,ent has the
dis#retionM!o-er to fi0 a date for the enfor#e,ent of a !arti#ular, statute or for *rantin* #ertain
#on#ession in res!e#t of ta0 or e0#ise duty, and for that !ur!ose, there #annot +e any
,athe,ati#al or lo*i#al -ay of fi0in* a date e0#e!t that the )e*islature or the Bo.ern,ent ,ay
fi0 the sa,e a##ordin* to its o-n need and #on.enien#e.
(1. 8e ha.e already !ointed out hereina+o.e in !ara. 20 that in the instant #ase the
)e*islatureMEederal Bo.ern,ent had e0tended +enefits of the .arious re.isions in the !ension to
all the !ensioners irres!e#ti.e of the date of retire,ent inas,u#h as the !etitioner of C.P.
No.15-R of 1989 is no- dra-in* Rs.(,051 !er ,onth as !ension in !la#e of Rs.1,55' !er ,onth
-hi#h he -as dra-in* u!on retire,ent in 19'6. Co-e.er, the +enefit of in#rease in the a,ount
of #ut off !oint fro, Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000 -ith effe#t fro, 1-'-1980 and then fro, Rs.2,000 to
Rs.2,500 -ith effe#t fro, 1-8-198(, -as not e0tended to the !ensioners -ho had retired !rior to
the a+o.e t-o s!e#ified dates. Dut, this dis#ri,inatory treat,ent -as done a-ay -ith effe#t fro,
1-'-1985 and, therefore, no- the !ensioners #annot ha.e any le*iti,ate *rie.an#e in this re*ard.
/he 3uestion, -hether the Bo.ern,ent #ould de!ri.e the a+o.e +enefit to the !ensioners -ho
had retired !rior to the s!e#ified date has +een su+1e#t-,atter of 1udi#ial !ro#eedin*s. n this
+ehalf, referen#e ,ay +e ,ade to the #ase of /he A##ountant-Beneral, Pun1a+ and another .. Ch.
>adir Da&hsh and another $P ) ? 198( )ah. 256%, in -hi#h a ?i.ision Den#h of the )ahore Ci*h
Court headed +y A.2. 2ala,, J. $as his )ordshi! then -as%, -hile dis,issin* an ntra Court
A!!eal a*ainst the 1ud*,ent of a learned 2in*le Jud*e !assed +y hi, in e0er#ise of
#onstitutional 1urisdi#tion dire#tin* the Pun1a+ Bo.ern,ent to *i.e +enefit of in#rease in the
a,ount of #ut off !oint -ith effe#t fro, 1-'-.1980 fro, Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000 under ,e,o dated
15-'-19807 to the !etitioner, o+ser.ed as follo-sH--
...../herefore, fro, 1st of July, 1980, 9!ension9 shall +e #al#ulated in the .!res#ri+ed ,anner and
any a,ount in e0#ess of Rs.2,000 shall +e redu#ed +y 50N. <+.ious it is that fro, 1st July, 1980
9!ension9 -ill +e #al#ulated of !ersons -ho -ere *ettin* !ension or -ere eli*i+le. /hey -ere not
to +e +arred. t is for the, that de#ision -as +ein* ta&en. /herefore, the #ontention that the
+enefit -ill +e deri.a+le +y P!eo!le7 -ho -ill retire on 1st of July, 1980 or thereafter, is -ithout
for#e. t -as !atently for the P!ensioners7. /he #ontention that the de#ision of the Bo.ern,ent
has +een differently #onstrued +y the Einan#e ?e!art,ent is neither here nor there. ?e#ision of
the Bo.ern,ent #annot +e .aried or ,odified +y inter!retation +y an offi#er in one of the
de!art,ents of the Bo.ern,ent, e.en if it +e Einan#e.9
(2. Co-e.er, -e ,ay a*ain !oint out that -ith effe#t fro, 1-'-1986 an additional +enefit of 2N
!ension for ea#h year of ser.i#e e0#eedin* (0 years su+1e#t to a ,a0i,u, of 10N of !ension
san#tioned -as *i.en to the !ensioners -ho retired after (0-6-1986 and not to those !ensioners
-ho retired earlier and, therefore, the a+o.e -ithholdin* of the +enefit fro, the !ensioners -ho
had retired !rior to 1-'-1986 -ithout ha.in* any +asis as to +rin* the #ase -ithin reasona+le
#lassifi#ation, #annot +e sustained in .ie- of the ratio de#idendi of the #ases referred to
hereina+o.e. A##ordin* to the list of do#u,ents su+,itted +y 4r. 2a,dani, the Pun1a+
Bo.ern,ent has already e0tended the a+o.e +enefit to all the !ensioners irres!e#ti.e of the date
of retire,ent. 2i,ilarly the -ith-holdin* of the +enefit of P.<. No.5 of 1988 fro, the !etitioner
in C.P. No.5-R of 1990 -as not -arranted +y la-. n this re*ard, referen#e ,ay +e ,ade to the
#ase of 4.A. Rashid .. Pa&istan throu*h Einan#e ?i.ision Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan, sla,a+ad,
and ( others $P ) ? 1988 >uetta '0%, in -hi#h the fa#ts -ere that the !etitioner in a+o.e
C.P.No.5-RM90 ha!!ened to +e the !etitioner. Ce i,!u*ned Bo.ern,ent a#tion of -ith-holdin*
the +enefit of P.<. No.5 of 198( on the *round that he had retired earlier. A ?i.ision Den#h of
the Dalo#histan Ci*h Court headed +y A+dul >adeer Chaudhry, J. $as his )ordshi! then -as%,
allo-ed the a+o.e !etition and o+ser.ed as follo-sH-
9/he !lain readin* of the Presidential <rder No.5 of 198( ,a&es it #lear that no-here in this
<rder, it has +een stated that the +enefit of this order -ould not +e a!!li#a+le to those Jud*es
-ho had retired !rior to 1st July, 1981. t has also not +een !ro.ided in this <rder that the
,a0i,u, li,it -ould only +e a!!li#a+le to the Jud*es, -ho had retired on or after 1st July,
1981. "nder Arti#le 205 of the Constitution, re,uneration and other ter,s and #onditions of
ser.i#e of a Jud*e of the 2u!re,e Court or of a Ci*h Court shall +e as !ro.ided in the Eifth
2#hedule.. /here is a #onstitutional !ro.ision fi0in* re,uneration and other ter,s and #onditions
of a Ci*h Court Jud*e. n a##ordan#e -ith su#h !ro.ision, the !ay and !ension of the Jud*es of
the su!erior Courts are fi0ed +y a #onstitutional instru,ent. /he Eifth 2#hedule relates to
re,uneration and ter,s and #onditions of ser.i#e of Jud*es. /his 2#hedule is not to +e read in
isolation, as it is a !art of the Constitution. /he salary and other !ri.ile*es of the su!erior Court
Jud*es are allo-ed under a Constitutional !ro.ision, in order to &ee! the 1udi#iary inde!endent.
/he +asi# !rin#i!le of inter!retation of statute is that if the -ords are #lear and una,+i*uous,
then literal #onstru#tion ,ust +e follo-ed. /he intention of the la--*i.er #an +e seen fro, the
-ords the,sel.es and no forei*n ele,ent is to +e introdu#ed. /he inter!retation ,ust +e
har,onious and reasona+leH9
/he .ie- ta&en in the a+o.e #ase +y the Dalo#histan Ci*h Court see,s to +e in #onsonan#e -ith
la- and the reasonin* #ontained therein is e3ually a!!li#a+le to the instant #ase.
((. 8e -ould, therefore, allo- the a+o.e !etitions to the e0tent of de#larin* that denial of
additional +enefit of 2N of !ension for ea#h year of ser.i#e e0#eedin* (0 years su+1e#t to a
,a0i,u, of 10N of !ension san#tioned referred to hereina+o.e in !ara. 19 $a%$0.ii% to the
!ensioners -ho retired !rior to 1-'-1986, and denial to the !etitioner in C.P. No.5-R of 1990 of
the +enefit under P.<. No.5 of 1988 referred to hereina+o.e in !ara. 19$+%$.i% on7 the *round that
he retired !rior to 1-'-198' founded on a+o.e eli*i+ility #riteria as to the date of retire,ent,
+ein* dis#ri,inatory and .iolati.e of Arti#le 25, and, they are entitled to the sa,e $if not already
*ranted% so lon* other !ensioners are !aid.
/he !etitions stand dis!osed of in the a+o.e ter,s -ith no order as to #osts.
6Sd.7
AJMA! M"A%, J.
M>#AMMA2 A-FA! !)%+, J.
SAJJA2 A!" S#A#, J.
SAA2 SA))2 JA%, J.&&- a, in res!e#tful a*ree,ent -ith the 1ud*,ent !ro!osed to +e
deli.ered +y ,y learned +rother A1,al 4ian, J. As !ointed out +y hi, the retired #i.il ser.ants
for, a #lass +y the,sel.es in relation to those -ho are still in ser.i#e. n the a+sen#e of any
s!e#ial #ir#u,stan#es it -ill +e dis#ri,inatory to *rant a !ri.ile*e or +enefit of one su+-#lass of
retired #i.il ser.ants and -ithhold the sa,e fro, another su+-#lass of retired #i.il ser.ants +y
fi0in* a date -ith re*ard to its a.aila+ility.
a, una+le to su+s#ri+e to the #ontention of 4r. 2a,dani that the rule of e3uality as
in#or!orated in Arti#le 25 of the Constitution re3uires that the +enefit of any i,!ro.e,ent in
!ension -hi#h ,ay +e *ranted to a #i.il ser.ant retirin* in future ,ust in.aria+ly +e e0tended to
already retired #i.il ser.ants -ho held the sa,e or #orres!ondin* a!!oint,ent at the ti,e of
their retire,ent. t is to +e noti#ed that in order to attra#t or retain talent for ,aintenan#e of its
ser.i#es the Bo.ern,ent is in #o,!etition -ith the !ri.ate se#tor. 8hile fi0in* the ter,s and
#onditions of ser.i#e----hi#h of ne#essity in#lude the !ensionary +enefits as -ell---the
Bo.ern,ent has to ta&e this as!e#t of the ,atter also into a##ount. n the #ir#u,stan#es if the
Bo.ern,ent i,!ro.es the !ensionary !ri.ile*es and +enefits for its ser.in* e,!loyees or future
entrants it #annot +e said that it is *uilty of dis#ri,inatory treat,ent to-ards those -ho ha.e
already retired.
t is no +ou+t true that those ser.in* #i.il ser.ants -hose ter,s and #onditions are i,!ro.ed
-ould +e, on retire,ent, +etter !la#ed than those -ho ha.e already retired after holdin*
e3ui.alent a!!oint,ents +ut then it #an hardly +e #alled a #ase of dis#ri,inatory treat,ent
.iolatin* the !ro.isions of Arti#le 25 of the Constitution. <n the other hand, it -ill +e a #ase of
*i.in* effe#t to different #ontra#ts of e,!loy,ent.
R>S,AM S. S"2#$A, J.&&& ha.e read the 1ud*,ent of ,y learned +rother A1,al 4ian J., and
-ould li&e to add a fe- -ords.
2. /he o+li*ations of an sla,i# 2tate to-ards its e,!loyees first needs to +e stated. A##ordin*
to ?r. 4ah,ood A. BhaFi of the nternational sla,i# "ni.ersity, sla,a+ad, in his resear#h
!a!er, a Cadith re!orted +y A+dur RaFFa3 and Daiha3i 3uotes the Coly Pro!het $!.+.u.h.% as
statin* 9Any+ody -ho hires the ser.i#es of a !erson should identify +eforehand -hat
re,uneration he -ould re#ei.e9. 4usli, 1urists ha.e held that an a*ree,ent or #ontra#t -ould
+e in.alid if the re,uneration of the e,!loyee -as not fi0ed +eforehand. ?r. Ah,ad Al Assal of
the nternational sla,i# "ni.ersity, sla,a+ad, in his resear#h !a!er ,entions that the Coly
>ur7an #learly enfor#es fulfil,ent of o+li*ations. 9< ye -ho +elie.e Eulfil $all% o+li*ations9
$Cha!ter 5, .erse 1%. A##ordin* to .arious Cadiths, !ro!er -a*es should +e deter,ined in a
,anner so that they are #o,,ensurate -ith +asi# needs and !ri#es !re.alent. ?r. 4ah,ood A.
BhaFi su,s u! these traditions as follo-sH
9$i% A la+ourer should +e !aid food and #lothin* a##ordin* to the esta+lished and a##e!ted nor,s
$al-4aruf% and they should +e #har*ed -ith -or& a##ordin* to their #a!a#ity9. $4u-atta of
,a, 4ali&%. $ii% 9Any+ody -ho +e#o,es our $2tate7s% e,!loyee should ,arry if he does not
ha.e a -ife@ should ha.e a ser.ant if he does not ha.e one@ should ha.e a house if he does not
ha.e one. Dut if he trans*resses this li,it he is a trea#herous9. $A+u ?aud, 2unan%. $iii% 9Eulfil
the needs of your su+ordinates a##ordin* to their satisfa#tion9. $4a1,aal-Ta-a7id, Gol. G,
!.2(6%, $i.% CaFrat ",ar used to !ay his e,!loyees and fun#tionaries a##ordin* to their needs
and the re3uire,ents of the #ity in -hi#h they li.ed. $sla, &a 3tisadi NiFa,, !.95%. ?is#ussin*
the !rin#i!les *o.ernin* -a*es !aya+le +y an sla,i# 2tate to its e,!loyees, +n Nu1ai,, a
Canari 1urist of the 10th Century A.C., statesH 9/he final de#ision in this ,atter is to +e ta&en +y
the Bo.ern,entH Eor nothin* is ad,issi+le to the e,!loyees e0#e!t on the +asis of their
needs and the needs of their asso#iates in a##ordan#e -ith the &no-n and nor,al standard9. $+n
Nu1ai,, Al-As+ah 8a71-NaFa7ir, !.1(0%. "nder the Pa&istan Constitution 19'( the 2tate inter
alia is +ound, as res!e#ts the 4usli,s of Pa&istan, to !ro,ote o+ser.an#e of the sla,i# ,oral
standards Isee Arti#le (1$2%J, ,a&e !ro.ision for se#urin* 1ust and hu,ane #onditions of -or&
Isee Arti#le ('$#%J, se#ure the -ell +ein* of the !eo!le inter alia +y raisin* their standard of
li.in* and ensurin* e3uita+le ad1ust,ent of ri*hts +et-een e,!loyers and e,!loyees Isee Arti#le
(8 $a%J, !ro.ide for all #itiFens, -ithin a.aila+le resour#es, fa#ilities for -or& and ade3uate
li.elihood -ith all reasona+le rest and leisure Isee Arti#le (8$+%J, !ro.ide for all !ersons in the
ser.i#e of Pa&istan or other-ise, so#ial se#urity +y #o,!ulsory so#ial insuran#e or other ,eans
Isee7 Arti#le (8$#%J and !ro.ide +asi# ne#essities of life for all #itiFens as art@ !er,anently or
te,!orarily una+le to earn their li.elihood on a##ount of infir,ity, si#&ness or une,!loy,ent
Isee Arti#le (8 $d%J. "nder Arti#le 29$2%, -here the o+ser.an#e of any !arti#ular Prin#i!le of
Poli#y #ontained in Arti#les 29 to 50 is de!endent u!on resour#es +ein* a.aila+le for the said
!ur!ose, the !rin#i!le is to +e re*arded as +ein* su+1e#t to the a.aila+ility of resour#es.
(. n an sla,i# 2tate the Bo.ern,ent also has a duty to-ards its retired e,!loyees. /he Coly
Pro!het 4uha,,ad $!.+.u.h.% said 9e.ery one has so,e res!onsi+ilities of loo&in* after those
-ho are under his #are. /he ruler has a #i.i# duty to his nation, the -ay hus+and is res!onsi+le to
-ife and #hildren and the e,!loyer is res!onsi+le to e,!loyees et#.9 <ne of the i,!ortant
res!onsi+ilities of the 2tate is to loo& after the needs of the ho,eless and shelter less. Du&hari
has re!orted the Coly Pro!het as sayin* 9Any+ody -ho +e3ueaths a !ro!erty, it -ill *o to his
heirs. Dut if he lea.es shelterless #hildren or any lia+ility $-ithout anythin* to !ay there-fro,% he
should #o,e to ,e $here a!!ro!riately the referen#e !oints to the 2tate% as 1 a, his *uardian.9
/he Cadith !oints to the o+li*ation of the 2tate to !ro.ide +asi# ne#essities to all #itiFens in
i,!e#unious #ir#u,stan#es. ?r. 4ah,ood A. BhaFi of the nternational sla,i# "ni.ersity,
sla,a+ad, in his resear#h !a!er #learly !oints out that the lia+ility of the 2tate has to +e in
&ee!in* -ith the resour#es of the 2tate +e#ause 9Allah does not #har*e any+ody -ith any
res!onsi+ility e0#e!t a##ordin* to his #a!a#ity $the Coly >ur7an 2H 286% and that in res!e#t of
finan#ial res!onsi+ilities 9the -ealthy a##ordin* to his ,eans and the !oor a##ordin* to his
,eans9 $the Coly >ur7an 2H 2(6%. ?urin* the !eriod of the first Cali!h of sla, it -as !ro.ided
in the a*ree,ent -ith the !eo!le of Ci,yar, -ho -ere Christians, that the 2tate -ill fulfil all
their needs in #ase of any distress or ina+ility to earn $Aita+-al-Ahara1 +y ,a, =usuf, !. 1'2%.
/he duty of the 2tate to !ro.ide ade3uate !ensionary +enefts is refle#ted in Arti#le (8$#% and $d%,
su+1e#t to a.aila+ility of resour#es as !ointed out in Arti#le 29$2%. /he duty under the 2hariah to
!ro.ide !ensionary +enefits in the sa,e ,anner as ser.i#e +enefits, a##ordin* to the needs of this
!arti#ular #lass, +rin*s to the fore the so#io-e#ono,i# o+li*ation of the 2tate to fi0 fro, ti,e to
ti,e #ertain ,ini,u, standards -hi#h should *o.ern the deter,ination of !ension of the
Bo.ern,ent ser.ants retirin* at different ste!s in .aryin* +asi# !ay s#ales.
5. n Bo.ern,ent ser.i#e, there are ,any &inds of !ensions ad,issi+le to Bo.ern,ent ser.ants,
su#h as 2u!erannuation !ension, Retire,ent !ension, n.alid !ension, Co,!ensation !ension,
;0traordinary !ension and Ea,ily !ension@ #hief of the, +ein* the 2u!erannuation !ension and
the Retire,ent !ension -hi#h ser.es the ,a1ority of the retired Bo.ern,ent ser.ants.
5. /he su!erannuation !ension is that *ranted to a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant -ho retires or is retired
fro, Bo.ern,ent ser.i#e on or after attainin* the a*e fi0ed for su!erannuation retire,ent. /he
retire,ent !ension is that *ranted to a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant -ho not +ein* eli*i+le for
su!erannuation !ension o!ts to retire after 25 years 3ualifyin* ser.i#e or su#h less ti,e as ,ay
for any s!e#ial #lass of Bo.ern,ent ser.ants +e !res#ri+ed, or is #o,!ulsorily retired fro,
ser.i#e +y the authority #o,!etent to re,o.e hi, fro, ser.i#e on *rounds !ro.ided +y la-. /he
in.alid !ension is that a-arded to a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant -ho is retired fro, ser.i#e on ,edi#al
*rounds +efore rea#hin* the a*e of su!erannuation. /he #o,!ensation !ension is that a-arded to
a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant -ho is dis#har*ed fro, Bo.ern,ent ser.i#e o-in* to the a+olition of his
!ost. /he ;0traordinary !ension is that *ranted to a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant -ho is in1ured, or is
stru#& -ith a se.ere disease -hilst e0!osed to the sa,e in the #ourse of his duty, or is &illed
-hilst !erfor,in* his duties. /he fa,ily !ension is ad,issi+le to the fa,ily of a Bo.ern,ent
ser.ant in the #ase of his death -hilst in ser.i#e or after his retire,ent.
6. 8hilst the different !ensions ser.e different and .aryin* !ur!oses, the first t-o !ensions, i.e.
the su!erannuation !ension and the retire,ent !ension ser.e three ,ain !ur!oses. Eirst, it
!ro.ides e#ono,i# and so#ial se#urity to the Bo.ern,ent e,!loyee durin* his old a*e and
!rote#ts hi, fro, finan#ial -ant and so#ial des!air. 2e#ond, it ena+les the Bo.ern,ent
e,!loyee to ,aintain hi,self at so,e le.el #o,,ensurate -ith the di*nity of the !ost or offi#e
last held +y hi, and thus indire#tly !reser.e the honour of the 2tate. /hird, it ser.es to attra#t
and indu#e #o,!etent !ersons to 1oin Bo.ern,ent ser.i#e, as o!!osed to !ri.ate ser.i#e, -here
se#urity of tenure and retire,ent +enefits are not so attra#ti.e, thou*h salary and other ter,s ,ay
+e ,ore fa.oura+le, and also !ro.ides in#enti.e to ser.in* Bo.ern,ent e,!loyees for ,ore
+etter and sustained -or& in the fa#e of risin* inflation. /he first !ur!ose re#o*nises the
so#io-e#ono,i# o+li*ation of the 2tate to assist its retired e,!loyees to ,aintain the,sel.es +y
!ro.idin* e#ono,i# se#urity in the fall of life -hen their a+ility to find -or& or e,!loy,ent in
the !ri.ate se#tor +e*ins to fade and their life7s sa.in*s also tend to di,inish. /he se#ond
!ur!ose re#o*nises the honour of the 2tate to assist its retired e,!loyees fro, fallin* into su#h
i,!e#unious #ir#u,stan#es as ,ay !ush the, into insol.en#y or #ri,e and thus i,!air their
honour and thus indire#tly tarnish that of the 2tate. /he third !ur!ose re#o*nises the ne#essity of
the 2tate, in &ee!in* -ith ,odern trends, to #o,!ete -ith the !ri.ate se#tor to se#ure the +est
talent a.aila+le for its !u+li# ser.i#e, +y offerin* li+eral retire,ent and other finan#ial ter,s and
#onditions as indu#e,ent or re-ard for 1oinin* ser.i#e, and also !ro.idin* in#enti.e to the
ser.in* e,!loyees for ,ore +etter and sustained -or&. /hus, thou*h at the ti,e of retire,ent the
retirin* Bo.ern,ent ser.ant re#ei.es !ension at the rate then a.aila+le under the rules, -hi#h is
then the hi*hest that the 2tate #an offer, -hi#h in#ludes the three ele,ents stated a+o.e, +ut as
ti,e !ro*resses and the .alue of the #urren#y *ets eroded +y inflation, the ele,ent of attra#tion
first disa!!ears, then the ele,ent of the honour of the 2tate and lastly the ele,ent of e#ono,i#
and so#ial se#urity, -ith the result that the !ension hardly !ro.ides a +are su+sisten#e allo-an#e
to &ee! +ody and soul to*ether, !ri,arily a,on*st the lo-er *rade !ensioners.
'. All for,s of !ensions, in#ludin* the su!erannuation !ension, !aya+le +y Bo.ern,ent, are
de!endent u!on statutory !ro.isions. "nder Arti#le 250 of the Pa&istan Constitution 19'( the
ter,s and #onditions of ser.i#e of !ersons -or&in* -ith the Eederal Bo.ern,ent are deter,ined
+y la- !assed +y 4a1lis-e-2hoora $Parlia,ent% and that of !ersons -or&in* -ith the Pro.in#ial
Bo.ern,ents +y la- !assed +y the res!e#ti.e Pro.in#ial Asse,+lies. 2e#tion 19 of the Ci.il
2er.ants A#t, 19'(, and si,ilar !ro.isions in the different Pro.in#ial Ci.il 2er.ants A#ts !ro.ide
for !ay,ent of !ensions to #i.il ser.ants of the Eederal and the Pro.in#ial Bo.ern,ents as ,ay
+e !res#ri+ed, that is to say as !res#ri+ed +y the rules. )i&e-ise, under se#tion 25$2% of the Ci.il
2er.ants A#t, 19'(, and si,ilar !ro.isions in the different Pro.in#ial Ci.il 2er.ants A#ts, read
-ith Arti#le 251 of the Constitution, all rules, orders or instru#tions in for#e in res!e#t of ter,s
and #onditions of #i.il ser.ants #o,!etently ,ade, are to +e dee,ed to +e rules ,ade under the
A#t and as #ontinuin* in for#e. A host of rules deal -ith different ty!es of !ensions !aya+le to
different ty!es of Bo.ern,ent ser.ants -or&in* at the Eederal le.el. )i&e-ise, se!arate rules
deal -ith different ty!es of !ensions !aya+le to Bo.ern,ent ser.ants -or&in* at the Pro.in#ial
le.el in the four !ro.in#es. A Bo.ern,ent e,!loyee7s #lai, to !ay and allo-an#es is re*ulated
+y the rules in for#e at the ti,e in res!e#t of -hi#h the !ay and allo-an#es ar# earned, -hilst his
#lai, to !ension is re*ulated +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e -hen he retires, resi*nes, or is
in.alided out, or is #o,!ulsorily retired, or is dis#har*ed fro, ser.i#e, or is in1ured, or &illed
-hilst in ser.i#e, de!endin* u!on the ty!e of !ension #lai,ed. n res!e#t of su!erannuation
!ension, the a,ount of !ension !aya+le is deter,ined +y the len*th of #o,!leted years of
3ualifyin* ser.i#e !ut in +y the Bo.ern,ent ser.ant, su+1e#t to the for,ula then in e0isten#e
!ro.idin* the ,ode of #al#ulation of !ension as !res#ri+ed +y the rules. /he ri*ht to re#ei.e
!ension flo-s dire#tly out of the rules a!!li#a+le and not out of any order of any offi#er or
authority, thou*h for the !ur!oses of deter,inin* or 3uantifyin* the a,ount it ,ay +e ne#essary
for the authorities to !ass su#h order. /he ri*ht to re#ei.e !ension +y a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant is
!ro!erty so as to attra#t Arti#les 2( and 25$1% of the Constitution and any ille*al denial to a
Bo.ern,ent ser.ant to re#ei.e the sa,e -ould affe#t his funda,ental ri*ht *ranted under the
said !ro.isions of the Constitution. f any authority is re3uired for this .ie-, ?eo&inanden
Prasad .. /he 2tate of Dehar $A R 19'1 2C 1509%, Dha*-ant 2in*h .. "nion of ndia $A R
1962 Pun1. 50(% and A.R. ;rry .. /he 2tate of Pun1a+ $ ) R 1 P+. 2'8% ,ay +e referred -ith
ad.anta*e.
8. A##ordin* to rou*h esti,ates !ro.ided +y the learned Attorney-Beneral, in 1988-89 there
-ere 2,58',6'5 #i.il ser.ants in the e,!loy,ent of the 2tate, +oth at the Eederal and the
Pro.in#ial le.els, and rou*hly 1,085,(05 !ensioners. n short, for e.ery 100 #i.il ser.ants there
-ere rou*hly 55 !ensioners. /here is thus an ina#ti.e ser.i#e for#e on the !ayroll of the 2tate,
-hi#h this sla,i# 2tate +asi#ally as a first ste! under the 2haria is o+li*ed to !rote#t on the
!rin#i!le of so#io-e#ono,i# 1usti#e, a!art fro, other #onsiderations stated a+o.e -hi#h it ,ay
desire to foster. )i&e all third -orld #ountries stru**lin* under finan#ial #onstraints arisin* out of
de!letin* forei*n reser.es and ,ountin* e#ono,i# !ressures, the diffi#ulties fa#ed +y the 2tate to
#onstantly ,eet fro, ti,e to ti,e e0tra e0!enditure to .a,! u! its salary stru#tures and other
finan#ial +enefits ad,issi+le to its e,!loyees, needs no !u+li#ity. Co-e.er, the Bo.ern,ents at
the Eederal and Pro.in#ial le.els, su+1e#t to finan#ial #onstraints, ha.e +een effe#tin* in#reases
in salaries and other finan#ial +enefits of its e,!loyees, in#ludin* !ensions and retire,ent
+enefits. Not only ha.e !ensionary and retire,ent +enefits +een au*,ented fro, ti,e to ti,e,
+ut in#reases in the !ensions !aya+le to those -ho ha.e retired earlier ha.e also +een ,ade fro,
ti,e to ti,e, so,eti,es al,ost si,ultaneously -ith the au*,entation ,ade in !ensionary
+enefits. /he 2tate therefore under its o+li*ation to ,eet so#io-e#ono,i# 1usti#e to its retired
!ersonnel, has #onstantly +een attendin* to their re3uire,ents.
9. /he only 3uestion of !ara,ount i,!ortan#e that arises in this #ase is -hether all the
!ensioners should for, a #lass a!art for !ur!oses of !ensionary +enefits so that -hene.er salary
s#ales or !ensions are au*,ented, their #onse3uent +enefits are also a.aila+le to all retired
!ensioners, a!art fro, those that -ill retire on or after the date the au*,entation ta&es effe#t, or
there #an +e su+-#lasses, ea#h su+-#lass +ein* #onstituted +y a *rou! of !ensioners -ho ha.e
retired on or after a date -hen so,e #han*e in the rules relatin* to salary s#ales or !ension has
ta&en !la#e till the date the ne0t #han*e ta&es !la#e, su+1e#t to any a,end,ents in the rules that
,ay +e ,ade fro, ti,e to ti,e au*,entin* their, !ensionary +enefits. 2!ea&in* fro, an
ideolo*i#al !oint of .ie-, the ans-er to the 3uestion #an only +e in the affir,ati.e, for that
-ould +e the hi*hest so#io-e#ono,i# *oal that a 2tate #ould a#hie.e under Arti#le (8 of the
Prin#i!les of Poli#y as set out in Cha!ter 2 of Part of the Constitution, +ut if the e#ono,i#
!osition is fee+le and -ea&, the sa,e is not e#ono,i#ally feasi+le and the fulfil,ent of this
!arti#ular !rin#i!le of Poli#y, in .ie- of Arti#le 2'$2%, #an +e deferred due to non-a.aila+ility of
resour#es, and the ne0t 3uestion therefore that -ould arise is -hether any le*islation affe#tin*
!ension does not .iolate any funda,ental ri*ht, su#h as the arti#le *uaranteein* e3uality, -hi#h
stri&es do-n any for, of #lassifi#ation -hi#h is unreasona+le and ar+itrary.
10. /o a!!re#iate this ,atter it is ne#essary to .ie- in their !ro!er !ers!e#ti.e the ri*hts and
lia+ilities of the Bo.ern,ent re*ardin* !ay and allo-an#es and !ensionary +enefits. /he
o+li*ations of the Bo.ern,ent relatin* to !ay and allo-an#es are re*ulated +y the rules in for#e
at the ti,e in res!e#t of -hi#h the !ay and allo-an#es are earned@ and that relatin* to !ensionary
+enefits +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e -hen the Bo.ern,ent ser.ant resi*ns or is dis#har*ed
fro, ser.i#e. /he Bo.ern,ent reser.es to itself the ri*ht of #han*in* the rules and re*ulations
re*ardin* !ay and allo-an#es and !ensions, fro, ti,e to ti,e@ and their dis#retion in the ,atter
and their ri*ht of inter!retin* their 7 ,eanin* in #ase of dis!ute. Pay and allo-an#es are earned
+y a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant ea#h ,onth durin* ser.i#e a##ordin* to the rules in for#e on the dates
they fall due. n the e.ent of any u!-ard re.ision, he is entitled to the +enefit of the re.ised !ay
and allo-an#es if he is in ser.i#e on the date they fall due ea#h ,onth i,,ediately after the
re.ision. 8hen su#h a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant retires, he #eases to earn any !ay and allo-an#es, as
his entitle,ent in that res!e#t #o,es, to an end. n the ,atter of !ension, the entitle,ent to
re#ei.e the sa,e, a##ordin* to the rules in for#e, e0ists and re,ains effe#ti.e as a #ontinuin*
entitle,ent, so lon* as the Bo.ern,ent ser.ant is in ser.i#e and has not retired. n the e.ent of
any u!-ard re.ision, the entitle,ent to re#ei.e the sa,e, a##ordin* to the a,ended rules, arises
i,,ediately after su#h re.ision and re,ains effe#ti.e as a #ontinuin* entitle,ent, so lon* as he
is in ser.i#e. 8hen su#h a Bo.ern,ent ser.ant retires, he earns the !ension a##ordin* to the
rules in for#e on the date of his retire,ent. 2hould any re.ision or re.isions ta&e !la#e thereafter
au*,entin* the !ensionary +enefits, he is not entitled to the,, unless any of the, s!e#ifi#ally or
retros!e#ti.ely #o.ers his #ase. /hus, -hilst the Bo.ern,ent ser.ant in e,!loy,ent earns
au*,entation in his !ay and allo-an#es -ith e.ery re.ision that ta&es effe#t -hilst he is in
ser.i#e, the Bo.ern,ent ser.ant after retire,ent earns no au*,entation in his !ension -ith e.ery
re.ision in !ension that ta&es effe#t thereafter after he has retired, unless his #ase is s!e#ifi#ally
!ro.ided for. A*ain, it ,ust not +e for*otten, that -ith e.ery re.ision in the !ay, the entitle,ent
of the ser.in* Bo.ern,ent ser.ant to re#ei.e !ension after retire,ent stands enhan#ed, for +asi#
!ay #onstitutes an essential ele,ent of e,olu,ents in the different for,ulas that are used to
deter,ine !ension.
11. )earned #ounsel for the !etitioners a!!earin* in Constitution Petitions Nos. 15 of 1989 and (
of 1990 ha.e dra-n our attention to the .arious ,odes +y -hi#h the Bo.ern,ent of Pa&istan has
+een in#reasin* the !ensionary +enefits of so,e of its e,!loyees, -ithout *rantin* the sa,e
+enefits to those -ho ha.e retired earlier. /hey are $A% n#rease in salaries of the ser.in*
e,!loyees, -ithout *rant of #orres!ondin* +enefits to the retired e,!loyees. /he !etitioners7
#lai, that for #al#ulation of !ension their last salaries dra-n in their old ti,e s#ales should
fi*urati.ely +e treated as #orres!ondin* to those dra-n in the ne- ti,e s#ales at the sta*es -here
they retired and thus they should +e *i.en the +enefit of enhan#ed !ensions. /hese in#reases in
salaries ha.e +een set out +y ,y learned +rother A1,al 4ian, J., in #lauses $ii%, $i.%, $.ii%, $0% and
$0i0% of su+-!ara. $a% of !ara. 19 of his 1ud*,ent. $D% nde0ation allo-ed on the salaries of the
ser.in* e,!loyees, -ithout *rant of #orres!ondin* +enefits to the retired e,!loyees, on the sa,e
+asis as stated a+o.e. /hese in#reases ha.e +een set out +y ,y learned +rother in #lauses $0.%
and $00ii% of su+-!ara. $a% of !ara. 19 of his 1ud*,ent. $C% Re.ision of ,ode of #al#ulation of
!ension on the +asis of last !ay dra-n instead of on a.era*e !ay durin* last 12M(6 ,onths
a!!li#a+le to !ensioners retirin* on or after 1-'-1986. /his has +een set out +y ,y learned
+rother in #lause $0.i% of su+-!ara. $a% of !ara. 19 of his 1ud*,ent. $?% Brant of additional
+enefit of 2N of !ension for ea#h year of ser.i#e e0#eedin* (0 years, su+1e#t to a ,a0i,u, of
10N !ension san#tioned, a!!li#a+le to !ensioners retirin* on or after 1-'-1986. /his has +een set
out +y ,y learned +rother in #lause $0.ii% of su+-!ara. $a% of !ara. 19 of his 1ud*,ent. $;%
Re.ision of #ut-off !oints, a!!li#a+le to !ensioners -ho retired on or after 1-'-1980 and
1-'-198(. /his has +een set out +y ,y learned +rother in #lauses $.%, $0ii% and $0iii% of su+-!ara.
$a% of !ara. 19 of his 1ud*,ent.
12. t is ad,itted +et-een the !arties that the other in#reases referred to +y ,y learned +rother in
#lauses $i%, $iii%, $.i%, $.iii%, $i0%, $0i%, $0i.%, $0.%, $0.iii% and $00% to $00iii% of su+-!ara. $a% of
!ara. 19 of his 1ud*,ent -ere a!!li#a+le to !ast !ensioners and the !etitioners ha.e no *rie.an#e
a*ainst the sa,e.
1(. )earned #ounsel for the !etitioner a!!earin* in Constitution Petition No. 5-A of 1990 only
#hallen*es President7s <rder No.5 of 1988, -hose +enefit has +een denied to his #lient.
15. -ill no- ta&e u! the #ase of le*islation effe#tin* in#rease in salaries and inde0ation on
salaries. /his #annot +e treated as le*islation #reatin* a #lassifi#ation -hi#h is ar+itrary 1ust
+e#ause the retired !ensioners ha.e not +een *i.en hi*her !ensions +y fi*urati.ely treatin* the,
as entitled to su#h hi*her salaries or inde0ation. /he o+1e#t of Arti#le 25 is not to for#e
Bo.ern,ent to le*islate o.er a ,atter -hi#h is silent, +ut to stri&e do-n a le*islation or a le*al
instru,ent -hi#h #reates #lassifi#ation -hi#h is unreasona+le or ar+itrary. /he fa#t that salaries
are in#reased or inde0ation is allo-ed thereon, is le*islation !ertainin* to salary -hi#h
s!e#ifi#ally deals -ith ser.in* Bo.ern,ent ser.ants and has no #onne#tion -ith !ension -hi#h
s!e#ifi#ally deals -ith Bo.ern,ent ser.ants -ho ha.e retired. 4erely +e#ause the le*al
instru,ents are dire#tly intended to au*,ent salaries of ser.in* *o.ern,ent ser.ants, the fa#t
that indire#tly they ,ay tend to affe#t e,olu,ents and thus au*,ent !ensionary +enefits or
affe#t other allo-an#es -hi#h are allo-ed as a !er#enta*e of the -a*es and thus au*,ent su#h
allo-an#es, #annot +e treated as #reatin* an unreasona+le dis#ri,ination a*ainst re#i!ients of
!ensions and allo-an#es. /he rule is that -here a !arti#ular le*islation tends to #reate an
ar+itrary distin#tion or unreasona+le dis#ri,ination, the !rin#i!le that all !ersons si,ilarly
#ir#u,stan#es or ,atters e.enly !la#ed should +e treated or dealt -ith ali&e is enfor#ed. Dut
-here a le*islation dealin* -ith one su+1e#t has the effe#t of indire#tly affe#tin* other !ersons or
,atters #o.ered +y another le*islation dealin* -ith another su+1e#t, the .iolation of the rule of
e3uality #annot +e +lindly enfor#ed, unless there is so,e stron* *round -hi#h -ould ,a&e it
al,ost ,andatory for the Court to do so. )e*islation also treats salary and !ension se!arately.
Just +e#ause one indire#tly affe#ts the other, it does not +e#o,e a #ase of unreasona+le
dis#ri,ination. f su#h a rule -ere to +e a!!lied, it -ould o!en u! a !andora7s +o0 of illusi.e and
unintelli*i+le #lassifi#ation, ha.in* no rationale nor reason, and all for,s of le*islation -ould +e
thro-n into utter #onfusion. n 2tate Bo.ern,ent Pensioners7 Asso#iation .. 2tate of Andhra
Pradesh $A R 1986 2 C 190'% the 2u!re,e Court of ndia -as #onsiderin* the 3uestion
-hether a !ro.ision !ro.idin* for !ay,ent of enhan#ed *ratuity -ith !ros!e#ti.e effe#t fro, a
s!e#ified date offended Arti#le 15 of the ndian Constitution if it did not !ro.ide for !ay,ent
under the re.ised +asis to all those -ho had already retired, the ndian 2u!re,e Court ans-ered
the 3uestion in the ne*ati.e. n dealin* -ith this 3uestion the 2u!re,e Court held H--
9,!ro.e,ents in !ay s#ales +y the .ery nature of thin*s #an +e ,ade !ros!e#ti.ely so as to
a!!ly to only those -ho are in the e,!loy,ent on the date of the u!-ard re.ision. /hose -ho
-ere in e,!loy,ent say in 1950, 1960 or 19'0, li.ed, s!ent, and sa.ed, on the +asis of the then
!re.ailin* #ost of li.in* stru#ture and !ay s#ale stru#ture, #annot in.o&e Arti#le 15 in order to
#lai, the hi*her !ay-s#ale +rou*ht into for#e say, in 1980. f u!-ard !ay re.ision #annot +e
,ade !ros!e#ti.ely on a##ount of Arti#le 15, !erha!s no su#h re.ision -ould e.er +e ,ade.9
do not therefore thin& that le*al instru,ents au*,entin* salaries or inde0ation on salaries #an
+e stru#& do-n as .iolatin* Arti#le 25 of the Constitution if they indire#tly ha!!en to affe#t
!ension. /hus, e.ery ti,e in#rease in salary or inde0ation to salary ta&es !la#e, a su+-#lass
-ould +e #reated, ea#h su+-#lass +ein* #onstituted +y a *rou! of !ensioners -ho ha.e retired on
or after the date -hen so,e #han*e in the le*al instru,ents has ta&en effe#t till the date the ne0t
#han*e in the salary or inde0ation ta&es !la#e.
15. At this sta*e it -ould not +e out of !la#e to ,ention that -hen the !ension s#he,e -as
su+stantially re.ised and au*,ented, -hi#h has +een referred to +y ,y learned +rother in #lauses
$i% and $iii% of su+-!ara. $a% of !ara. 19 of his 1ud*,ent, the enhan#ed +enefits -ere ,ade
a.aila+le to !ast !ensioners +y .irtue of !ara. 11 of Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. dated 18-8-1966 and
!ara. 8 of Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. dated '-1-19'' res!e#ti.ely. /his a##ords -ith the de#ision of
the ndian 2u!re,e Court in the #ase of ?.2. Na&ara .. /he "nion of ndia $A R 198( 2C 1(0%
-herein it -as held that any li+eralised #han*e in !ension s#he,e should +e ,ade a.aila+le to
!ast retired !ensioners !ros!e#ti.ely, the 2u!re,e Court ,a&in* it a+undantly #lear that the
arrears -ere not re3uired to +e !aid +e#ause to that e0tent the s#he,e -as !ros!e#ti.e. n the
t-o instant #ases #ited a+o.e -the +enefits of the li+eralised !ension s#he,e -ere ,ade a.aila+le
to !ast !ensioners !ros!e#ti.ely.
16. At this sta*e it ,ay also +e ,entioned that a!art fro, the a+o.e t-o su+stantial re.isions in
the !ension s#he,e that too& !la#e -hi#h au*,ented and li+eralised !ensions, other ,inor
in#reases that -ere *ranted to !ensioners -ere in al,ost all #ases *ranted to !ast !ensioners,
other than #ases relatin* to #ut off !oints or a,end,ent to the rules of the !ension s#he,e. 7
1'. 8ith re*ard to ite, $C% as stated in !ara. 11 a+o.e, there #an +e no #o,!laint, +e#ause the
definition of the e0!ression 9a.era*e e,olu,ent9, as last defined in Arti#le 586 in se#tion G of
Cha!ter :: of the Ci.il 2er.i#e Re*ulation $relatin* to !ensions% ha.in* +een i,!liedly
o,itted +y Einan#e ?i.ision <.4. dated 1-'-1986, the sa,e o+.iously -ould ta&e effe#t only
!ros!e#ti.ely.
18. 8ith re*ard to ite, $?% as stated in !ara. 11 a+o.e, a*ree -ith the .ie-s of ,y learned
+rother and -ould not li&e to add anythin*.
19. 8ith re*ard to ite, $?% as stated in !ara. 11 a+o.e, ,y learned +rother has dealt -ith this
,atter a!!ro!riately in !aras. 20 and (1 of his 1ud*,ent and no relief is a.aila+le to the
!etitioners on this s#ore.
20. 8ith re*ard to Constitution Petition No.5-R of 1990, the !etitioner is not entitled to any
relief other than relatin* to President7s <rder No.5 of 1988. /he !osition in his #ase is the sa,e
as that of the other !etitioners in the other t-o Constitution Petitions, -hi#h ha.e +een dealt -ith
+y ,e in !ara. 1' a+o.e. 4y learned +rother A1,al 4ian, J., has dealt -ith this ,atter
a!!ro!riately in !ara. (2 of his 1ud*,ent. -ould not therefore li&e to dra* a *reater len*th of
#hain.
21. <ne of the learned #ounsel for the !etitioners in C.P.No.15 of 1989 and C.P. No.2 of 1990
has further dra-n our attention to the fa#t that -here a !ension statute states that the !ension
shall +e a !er#enta*e of the salary atta#hed to an offi#e or ran& held +y an e,!loyee +efore
retire,ent, it ,ust +e #onstrued as !ro.idin* for a flu#tuatin* !ension -hi#h in#reases or
de#reases as the salaries !aid to a#ti.e e,!loyees in#rease or de#rease. n this #onne#tion learned
#ounsel has referred to Beor*e B. ;i#hel+er*er .. City of Der&eley $56 C. 2d 182 O 29( P. 2d 1%.
n this #ase the !ension statute of the City of Der&eley stated that the !ension -ould +e a
!er#enta*e of the a.era*e salary atta#hed to the ran& held +y the e,!loyee +efore retire,ent.
2e#tion 25 of the <rdinan#e readH 9/he !ensions *ranted under the ter,s of this <rdinan#e shall
not in#rease nor de#rease -ith any #han*es in salary su+se3uent to the date of the *rantin* of the
!ension for the ran& or ran&s u!on -hi#h the !ension -as +ased nor shall any #han*es of title or
ran& in the a#ti.e ser.i#e affe#t an in#rease or redu#tion in the e0istin* !ensionsH9
n A!ril 19(9 an a,endin* <rdinan#e inter alia eli,inated the -ords underlined a+o.e. /he
Court held, follo-in* the rule laid do-n in /erry .. City of Der&eley $51 Cal. 2d. 698% and other
#ases, that it -as settled that -here a !ension statute stated that the !ension -as a !er#enta*e of
the a.era*e salary atta#hed to the ran& held +y the e,!loyee +efore retire,ent, it -as #onstrued
as !ro.idin* for a flu#tuatin* !ension -hi#h in#reased or de#reased as the salaries !aid to a#ti.e
e,!loyees in#reased or de#reased. /he a,end,ent to se#tion 25 -as held to #learly indi#ate that
the <rdinan#e -as intended to a!!ly to e0istin* !ensioners s!e#ially -hen it -as +orne in ,ind
that the !ension la-s had to +e literally #onstrued-to a#hie.e their +enefi#ent !ur!oses $/erry7s
#ase su!ra%./he Court held that !rior to the 19(9 a,end,ent, the !laintiffs -ere not entitled to
any in#rease in their !ension +y reason of any !ay in#rease, +ut after the 19(9 <rdinan#e the
a,end,ent re,o.ed the lan*ua*e in se#tion 25 -hi#h !re.ented the a!!li#ation of the rule
announ#ed in /erry7s #ase. t also held that -hilst the a,end,ent +arred any de#rease, it did not
!re.ent any in#rease in the !ension and therefore in#rease in the !ension -ith in#rease in the
salary -as !er,issi+le.
22. /he +asi# 3uestion is -hat is the la- here -hi#h *o.erns !ay,ent of !ensions. "nder Arti#le
5 of Cha!ter of the Ci.il 2er.i#e Re*ulations $relatin* to !ensions%, an offi#er7s #lai, to
!ension is re*ulated +y the rules in for#e at the ti,e -hen the offi#er resi*ns or is dis#har*ed
fro, the ser.i#e of Bo.ern,ent. "nder Arti#le 568 in 2e#tion of Cha!ter :: of the said
Re*ulations the a,ount of !ension that ,ay +e *ranted is deter,ined +y len*th of ser.i#e as set
forth in Arti#les 5'5 to 585. Arti#le 586 in 2e#tion G of the sa,e Cha!ter defines the e0!ression
9e,olu,ents9. /hou*h it has under*one sli*ht #han*es, the !resent definition readsH
9/he ter, 9e,olu,ents9 ,eans the e,olu,ents -hi#h the offi#er -as re#ei.in* i,,ediately
+efore his retire,ent and shall in#ludeH
$a% Pay as defined in ER 9 $21%$a%$i%@
$+% 2enior Post Allo-an#e@
$#% 2!e#ial Pay of all ty!es and nature@
$d% Personal Pay@
$e% /e#hni#al PayH
$f% ?earness Allo-an#e $no- nde0ation Pay%@
$*% n#re,ents a##rued durin* lea.e !re!aratory to retire,ent@
$h% Any other e,olu,ents -hi#h ,ay +e s!e#ially #lassed as Pay.9
/he -ords 9the e,olu,ents -hi#h the offi#er -as re#ei.in* i,,ediately +efore his. retire,ent9
ha.e al-ays +een !resent. t is #lear fro, the definition of the ter, 9e,olu,ents9 that they are
to +e #al#ulated u!on -hat the offi#er -as re#ei.in* i,,ediately +efore his retire,ent and sin#e
inter alia +asi# !ay, dearness allo-an#e, inde0ation !ay, et#., are so,e of the #onstituents that *o
to ,a&e u! e,olu,ents, that !ay or allo-an#e et#., alone -ould +e ta&en into #onsideration
-hi#h the e,!loyee -as re#ei.in* i,,ediately +efore his retire,ent. /he !ros!e#ts of
su+se3uent in#reases in !ay or allo-an#es +ein* ta&en into #onsideration in the ter,
9e,olu,ents9 therefore does not arise. n .ie- of the la- +ein* stri#t and #lear, the li+eral
do#trine #annot +e i,!osed in the !ension syste, !re.ailin* !resently.
2(. Defore #on#ludin*, #onsider it ,y duty to dra- the attention of the Bo.ern,ent to the
a!!allin* ,ini,u, #eilin* fi0ed in res!e#t of !ensions, -hi#h is Rs.(00 !er ,ense,. As stated
earlier, it is the fore,ost so#io-e#ono,i# o+li*ation of an sla,i# 2tate to fi0 ,ini,u, !ensions
as ,eet the +asi# needs of its retired !ersonnel. /he need therefore to fi0 #ertain standards -hi#h
should *o.ern the deter,ination fro, ti,e to ti,e of the ,ini,u, !ensions !aya+le to
Bo.ern,ent ser.ants -ho ha.e retired in the !ast, in the li*ht of their ,ini,u, +asi# needs,
assu,es !ro,inen#e. )i&e-ise, the need to re,o.e all dis!arity +et-een !ast !ensioners and
ne- !ensioners in the sa,e !ay *rades or ran&s +y, *radual ste!s s!read o.er a stated !eriod of
ti,e also re3uires serious attention, for under the 2hariah the 2tate has an o+li*ation to treat
e3ually !ersons e.enly !la#ed +y .irtue of e3ual len*th of faithful and loyal ser.i#e in the sa,e
or e3ui.alent !ay *rades, !osts or ran&s. t is ho!ed that the Bo.ern,ent shall address itself to
these 3uestions. Perha!s the Eederal 2hariat Court at so,e sta*e -ill loo& into these ,atters.
25. Eor the fore*oin* reasons, a*ree -ith the final order !ro!osed +y ,y learned +rother in
!ara. (( of his 1ud*,ent.
4.DA.M-151M2 <rder a##ordin*ly.