M.N. Bhandari, J. - (1.) THE petitioner is aggrieved by denial of pensionary benefits after his voluntary retirement.
(2.) LEARNED counsel for petitioner submits that application to seek voluntary retirement was made somewhere in the year 1995. It was accepted in the year 1998 with retrospective effect. The petitioner had already completed 24 years of service by the aforesaid time. He was thus entitled to the pensionary benefits. The qualifying service is only of 10 years as per UCO Bank (Employees) Pension Regulations, 1995 (in short "Regulations, 1995"). The petitioner has been yet denied the benefit on erroneous premises that he was required to complete 20 years of service to become eligible for pensionary benefits. The aforesaid is in violation of Regulation 14 of the Regulations, 1995. Learned counsel for respondents submits that Regulation 29 of Regulations, 1995 provides 20 years service for pensionary benefits in case of voluntary retirement. The petitioner has not completed 20 years of service thus was extended benefit of GPF and gratuity. By the time of retirement, the petitioner had completed only 18 years and few months service. The petitioner otherwise remained absent from the year 1987 till 1995. In view of the above, the petitioner is not entitled to the pensionary benefits.
(3.) I have considered the rival submissions made by the parties and perused the record.;