R.L. Anand, J. - (1.) SHRI Didar Singh petitioner has filed the present petition under Articles 226/ of the Constitution of India and he has prayed that a writ in the nature of certiorari be issued quashing the order Annexure P -11 dated 1st November, 1999, vide which his case for mustering -out pension has been rejected by the respondent -authorities and that a writ in the nature of mandamus be issued against the respondents directing them to give him the benefit of this pension according to rules and regulations along with interest.
(2.) THE case set up by the petitioner is that he joined the Royal Indian Army directly as a learner Dafedar Clerk on 5th November, 1941. He completed his training and was inducted as War Substantive Dafedar on 1 st May, 1942, He served during the active war period from 3rd October, 1942 to 15th June, 1946 and he was discharged from service after the petitioner gave an option and refused to be reverted to the lower rank on 29th July, 1953. As per the case of the petitioner the respondents had admitted that the discharge of the petitioner from the Army was on account of reduction in the establishment, therefore, he is entitled to the benefit of mustering -out pension but to no effect. So much so he gave legal notice to the respondents on 14th October, 1996. He filed a Civil Writ Petition earlier which was disposed of on 21st October, 1997 with the direction to the respondents to decide the case of the petitioner within six months from the receipt of the copy of the order. Finally, the case of the petitioner was declined by the respondent authorities. Hence the present writ petition, Notice of the writ petition was given to the respondents. The stand of the respondents as per the amended written statement can be summarised in the following manner : " 1. That the petitioner was enlisted in the Army on 5th November, 1941 as learner Clerk. He was promoted War Substantive Dfr (3rd Grade) on I st May, 1942. On 30th October, 1948 he was deprived of the rank of Dafedar and reduced to the rank of Sowar for an offence under the IAA Section 27(e). On 25th November, 1949, he was re -promoted Dafedar and allowed to count seniority w.e.f. 16th August, 1943. He was again reduced to rank on 4th March, 1952 on grounds of inefficiency. As per declaration certificate given by the petitioner, he was unwilling for said reversion and opted to leave the service with mustering out concessions. Further, the petitioner cannot claim mustering out pension as he was not a Dafedar at the time of his discharge on 29.7.1953, as he had been demoted to the rank of Sowar with effect from 4.3.1952. With regard to claim for service pension, the petitioner was not eligible for the same in terms of para M32 of Pension Regulation Part -1 (1961) as he has rendered 11 years and 263 days of qualifying service which is less than 15 years minimum qualifying service required for earning service pension under the pension Regulations slated above. 2. That as per records held, the petitioner was granted 60 days annual leave from 30th May, 1953 to 28th July, 1953 pending discharge from the Army service under provisions of Government of India, Ministry of Defence letter No. 53888/AG/Orgl.(A/2369 -S/D(AG) dated 13th November, 1952 being supernumerary to establishment of Hav Clerks and unwilling to revert to lower rank as intimated vide CDDA (P) Allahabad letter No. G2/11044/XXXV1 dated 3rd July, 1953. He was reduced to rank on 4th March, 1952 due to inefficiency. It can be seen from Army HQ letter No, 67283/AG/Org -1(b) dated 7th July, 1953, that he was not holding the rank of Dfr. on the date of issue of Army HQ letter No. 53888/AG/Org -1(a) dated 19th July, 1952 and therefore, he was not entitled to an option for release. As such, his release was declared illegal by Army HQ vide their letter No. 67283/AG/Org -l(b) dated 7th July, 1953, Army HQ instructed to cancel his release order and recall him to service and treat the period of leave availed till he reported for duty to adjust against his annual leave vide Army HQ letter No. 71576/AG/Org -l(b) dated 5th January, 1956."
(3.) I have heard Shri Bhim Sen Sehgal on behalf of the petitioner and Shri Gurpreet Singh on behalf of the respondents and with their assistance have gone through the record of this case.;