Vibhu Bakhru, J. - (1.) The petitioner - an association of retired employees of respondent no.2 company (hereafter PECL) - has filed the present petition impugning a circular dated 05.10.2017 issued by PECL (hereafter 'the impugned circular'), whereby the medical reimbursement to its retired employees provided under a scheme has been discontinued.
(2.) Pecl - an enterprise of the Central Government - introduced a scheme, "PEC's Medical Policy for Retired Employees" (hereafter 'the Medical Scheme'), for the benefit of its retired employees. PECL has, in terms of the impugned circular, temporarily discontinued the Medical Scheme with immediate effect.
(3.) The petitioner contends that the impugned circular, essentially, is ultra vires of the Constitution of India inasmuch as it denies the members of the petitioner association the benefits of the Medical Scheme. PECL disputes the aforesaid contention and contends that the Medical Scheme is not a statutory scheme and, therefore, the petitioner cannot seek the continuation of the same as a matter of right. According to PECL, the Medical Scheme is in the nature of a beneficial scheme and, thus, it can be withdrawn by it at any time. Factual Background;