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Issues:
1. Interpretation of a trust scheme for pension and gratuity for employees. 2. Entitlement of a retired employee to pension and gratuity. 3. Applicability of the Payment of Gratuity Act to a charitable trust. 4. Jurisdiction of the Civil Court in matters covered by the Payment of Gratuity Act. 5. Competency of amending a trust scheme under Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure for personal claims. Analysis: 1. The case involved the interpretation of a trust scheme created for religious and charitable purposes, which included provisions for granting pension and gratuity to employees who had served satisfactorily for a specified period. The scheme outlined conditions for pension and gratuity payments based on the employee's service duration and salary at the time of superannuation. 2. The petitioner, a retired employee of the trust, claimed entitlement to pension and gratuity as per the terms of the scheme. Despite serving from 1950 to 1993 and meeting the criteria, the trustees failed to release the amounts due. The trial court ruled in favor of the petitioner, acknowledging his entitlement to pension and gratuity, leading to an appeal by the trustees. 3. The appellate court scrutinized the applicability of the Payment of Gratuity Act to the trust. It highlighted that the Act's provisions did not automatically extend to public and charitable trusts unless specifically notified by the Central Government. The court clarified that the Act's definition of an employee based on wage limits might not directly apply to the petitioner's case. 4. Moreover, the court emphasized the exclusive jurisdiction of the Payment of Gratuity Act in resolving disputes related to gratuity payments. It noted that the Act's procedures, including dispute resolution and recovery mechanisms, superseded any Civil Court jurisdiction in matters covered by the Act. 5. The court also addressed the issue of amending the trust scheme under Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure for personal claims. It differentiated between modifications related to trust administration and those affecting private rights. In this case, the petitioner's claims for pension and gratuity were deemed personal and not suitable for invoking Section 92, leading to the rejection of the petition and the allowance of the appeal. In conclusion, the judgment delved into the intricate details of trust scheme provisions, statutory regulations, and court jurisdiction to determine the retired employee's entitlement to pension and gratuity, ultimately setting aside the trial court's order and rejecting the petitioner's claims.
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