2007 (9) TMI 687 - SC - Indian Laws

Summary

Issues Involved:
1. Validity of treating Finance and Law Departments as separate units for promotions.
2. Retrospective amendment of Service Rules.
3. Applicability of G.O.Ms. No.126 to retired employees.
4. Delay and limitation in filing claims.
5. Doctrine of legitimate expectation and Article 14 of the Constitution.

Detailed Analysis:

1. Validity of treating Finance and Law Departments as separate units for promotions:
The Government of Tamil Nadu issued G.O.Ms. No.1290 dated 05.06.1970, excluding the Finance and Law Departments from the "one unit" system for promotions. This led to employees in these departments receiving promotions ahead of their peers in other departments. The Tribunal initially allowed claims for equal promotion opportunities, citing the lack of guidelines for department allocation. However, the State later amended the Service Rules retrospectively to legitimize the separate treatment of these departments.

2. Retrospective amendment of Service Rules:
In response to the Tribunal's decision, the Government amended the Service Rules with retrospective effect from 05.06.1970 through G.O.Ms. No.30 dated 28.01.1994. This amendment aimed to validate the separate unit system for the Finance and Law Departments. The Tribunal dismissed a review application against this amendment, and the Government subsequently issued G.O.Ms. No.126 dated 29.05.1998 to address grievances by upgrading the pay of seniors in the "one unit" to match their juniors in the Finance Department.

3. Applicability of G.O.Ms. No.126 to retired employees:
The High Court held that G.O.Ms. No.126 applied to employees who had retired before its issuance, as it aimed to resolve long-standing issues equitably. However, the Supreme Court disagreed, stating that the notification was intended for existing employees and was not meant to confer benefits on retired employees. The notification's terms, including the requirement for an undertaking and the stipulation of no arrears, indicated its prospective application.

4. Delay and limitation in filing claims:
The Tribunal dismissed the applications filed by retired employees, citing a 20-year delay. The Supreme Court upheld this view, emphasizing that claims should have been raised promptly after the initial promotions in the Finance Department or the Tribunal's order in 1993. The Court noted that filing representations alone does not save the limitation period, and delay or latches can deprive claimants of benefits.

5. Doctrine of legitimate expectation and Article 14 of the Constitution:
The respondents argued that G.O.Ms. No.126 created a legitimate expectation for equal treatment. However, the Supreme Court clarified that legitimate expectation does not create new rights and must align with existing statutes. The Court also highlighted that Article 14 does not guarantee fundamental rights to promotion or post-retirement benefits. The classification of employees based on service status (active vs. retired) was deemed rational and not violative of Article 14.

Conclusion:
The Supreme Court set aside the High Court's judgment, ruling that G.O.Ms. No.126 applied prospectively to existing employees and did not extend benefits to retired employees. The appeals were allowed, and the claims based on long-standing grievances were dismissed due to delay and lack of legitimate expectation for retrospective benefits.