By R. Balasaravanakumar
CHENNAI: The Chennai High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to include policemen selected in the examination conducted before the new pension scheme for government employees in the old pension scheme.
The Government of Tamil Nadu introduced a new retirement scheme called Contributory Pension Scheme in 2003. It was announced that the new pension scheme will come into effect from 1st April 2003.
It was also announced that the new pension scheme will be followed for all the employees appointed in the government departments after April 1, 2003. 25 constables, including Sivashakti, filed a case in the Madras High Court seeking an order to continue the old pension scheme for them, who were selected based on the notification issued in 2002.
The cases were heard before Justice Anand Venkatesh. At that time, on the side of the petitioners, a notification was issued regarding the selection of 3,500 constables in the year 2002. It was argued that the new pension scheme should not be implemented for those selected on the basis of these selection procedures.
At that time, although the examination procedures had started in the year 2002 on the part of the government, the petitioners were appointed to the service only in November 2003. Only the new pension scheme is applicable to them. It was contended that they are not entitled to get old pension scheme benefits.
In the order issued by Justice Ananda Venkatesh, who heard the arguments of both sides, through the notification issued in 2002, female constables should be treated equally with the male constables who had passed the selection process in the same period, while they were appointed within a year and received benefits under the old pension scheme. They are not responsible for the 11-month delay in the appointment of male constables. So they should also be included in the old pension scheme.
Also, the government should complete the process of including them in the old pension scheme within 12 weeks,” the judge said in the order.