Supreme Court of India
V.S. MALLIMATHversusUNION OF INDIA AND ANR.
- Citation
- 2001 INSC 156
- Decided
- 21 March 2001
- Disposal
- Dismissed
- Bench
- G B PATTANAIK
Holding
Pension of a retired Chief Justice must be deducted, the NHRC appointment is re‑employment precluding gratuity, and the 240‑day leave encashment limit bars further encashment.
Summary
V.S. Mallimath, a retired Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, was appointed Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal and later a Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) until he turned 70. He challenged three deductions: the deduction of his judicial pension from his NHRC salary under Rule 3(b) of the NHRC service rules; the denial of gratuity on the ground that his NHRC appointment was not ‘re‑employment’; and the refusal to allow further encashment of earned leave beyond the 240‑day ceiling under Rule 4(2). The Supreme Court held that a High Court judge’s service is a service in connection with the affairs of the Union, so his pension must be deducted from the NHRC salary. The Court interpreted ‘re‑employment’ in its ordinary sense, concluding that the NHRC appointment amounted to re‑employment and therefore no gratuity was payable. It also held that the 240‑day limit on leave encashment had already been exhausted when the petitioner retired as Chief Justice, so no additional encashment was allowed. Consequently, the petition under Article 32 was dismissed.
Issues considered
- The pension of a retired Chief Justice may be deducted from the salary of a Member of the NHRC under Rule 3(b).
- Whether appointment as a Member of the NHRC constitutes ‘re‑employment’ for purposes of gratuity under the All India Services (Death‑cum‑Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958.
- The interpretation of ‘previous service’ and the 240‑day ceiling for leave encashment under Rule 4(2) of the NHRC service rules.
Legislation cited
- Protection of Human Rights Acts. 3(2), s. 40, s. 41, s. 8
Subjects
pension deductionservice conditionsNational Human Rights Commissionre‑employmentgratuityleave encashmentinterpretation of ‘government’Article 32judicial independence
Judgment
V.S. MALLIMATH A
v.
A UNION OF INDIA AND ANR.
MARCH 21, 2001
[G.B. PATIANAIK, S.N. PHUKAN AND B.N. AGRAWAL, JJ.] B
Service Law :
National Human Rights Commission Chaitperson and Members (Sala-
ries, Allowances and other Conditions of Service) Rules, 1993:
c
Rule 3(b) proviso-Pension-Deductibility of-From salary-Retired
Chief Justice appointed as Member, National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC)-Pension received a< retired Chief Justice deductedfrom the salary of
such Member-Validity of-Held: Sen,ice rendered by a Judge is a service in
connection with thP affairs of the Union-Pension received by a Judge of High
D
Court has to be taken into account for determination of his salary as Member,
NHRC-Hence, Pension received as retired Chi~{ Justice rightly deducted from
his salary as Member, NHRC.
Rule 10----Dratuity-Entitlement of-On re-employment-Retired Chief
Justice of High Court appointed as Member, NHRC-Gratuity not paid for the E
period ofsen>ice rendered as Member, NHRC-Validity of-Held: The expres-
sion 're-employment' is not de.fined in Rules-Applying common parlance
theory appointment of Member, NHRC amounts to 're-employment'-Hence,
no gratuity payable for the period of service as Member, NHRC-All lndia
Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1958, Rr. 16, 17 and 18.
F
Rule 4(2)-Leave encashment-Retired ChiefJustice appointed as Chair-
.. t man, Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)-On retirement from Tribunal, he
was appointed as Member, NHRC-Such Member already availed 24q days
encashment of leave as Chief Justice-No leai>e encashment for leave earned
as Member. NHRC allowed-Validity of-Held : The expression 'previous G
service' does not mean service as Chairman, CAT-No one is allowed to encash
leave for a period more than 240 days-Hence, such Member not entitled to
encashment of earned leave as Member, NHRC since he had already availed
encashment of 240 days of leave as Chief Justice
-..,.._
Word< and Phrases : H
567
568 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 2 S.C.R.
A "Govemment"-Meaning of-In the context ofproviso to R. 3(b} of the
National Human Rights Commission Chairperson and Members (Salaries,
Allowances and other Conditions of Service) Rules, 1993.
"Previous service"-Meaning of-In the context of R. 4(2) of the Na-
tional Human Rights Commission Chairperson and Members (Salaries, Allow-
B ances and other Conditions of Service) Rules, I993.
The petitioner, a retired Chief Justice of a High Court, was ap-
pointed as Chairman, Central Administrative Tribunal. On his retirement
from the Tribunal, the petitioner was appointed as Member, National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and continued there till the petitioner
c attained the age of 70 years.
The pension received by the petitioner as retired Chief Justice was
deducted from his salary as Member, NHRC under proviso to Rule 3(b) of
the National Human Rights Commission Chairperson and Members (Sala-
D ries, Allowances and other Conditions of Service) Rules, 1993. The peti-
tioner after retirement from NHRC was not paid his gratuity for the
period of service rendered as Member, NHRC. The petitioner was not
allowed to encash the leave that he earned as Member, NHRC. Hence this
petition.
E On behalf of the petitioner it was contended that the pension could
not he deducted from the salary of the petitioner as the services of the
Chief Justice could not be held to, be a service under the Government of the
Union or the Government of a State; that the petitioner's appointment as
Member, NHRC could not be termed as 're-employment' and, therefore,
the petitioner was entitled to gratuity under the All India Services (Death-
F
cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1958 and that the leave encash by the
petitioner as Chief Justice should not be counted towards the ceiling limit
of 240 days but only that encashed in his 'previous service' as Chairman,
CAT ·Should be counted.
G Dismissing the petition, the Court
HELD : 1. It is difficult to accept the contention of the petitioner that
the pension received by a Judge of a High Court shall not be taken into
account for determining his salary as a Member of the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) as the services or a Judge or a High Court by ~
H no stretch of imagination, even though pensionable, can at all be intended
V.S. MALLIMATH v. U.0.l. 569
to be excluded for determining the salary which such Member on retire- A
ment as a Judge or Chief Justice of a High Court is entitled to receive
under Rule 3(b) of the National Human Rights Commission Chairperson
#... and Members (Salaries, Allowances and other Conditions of Service) Rules,
1993. Deduction of pension received by a retired Chief Justice of a High
Court from the salary, which he is entitled to, as Member, NHRC, under
B
the proviso to Rule 3(b) would not in any way affect the independence of
the judiciary nor would it affect the constitutional scheme and the unique
position a Judge occupies under the Constitution. [577-D-E; G-H]
Union of India v. Pratibha Banerjee, [1995] 6 SCC 765, held inapplica-
hie. c
2. The expression 'Government' used in proviso to Rule 3(b) has to
be construed in the wider sense and the services rendered by a Judge or
Chief Justice of a High Court must be held to be a service in connection
with the affairs of the Union and as such the proviso to Rule 3(b) of the
Rules would govern the case of such retired Judge or Chief Justice in D
determining the salary, which he would be entitled to on being appointed
as Member, NHRC. [578-F -G]
Pashupati Nath Sukut v. Nem Chandra Jain, (1984] 2 SCC 404 and
Gurugobinda Basu v Sankari Prasad Ghosa~ (1964] 4 SCR 311, referred to.
E
3. The intention of the Rule making authority is crystal clear that
any pension which a Member has been in receipt of, for the services
rendered earlier, has to be deducted from the salary, which under the
Rules has been indicated to be equal to the salary of the Judge of the
Supreme Court. The contention of the petitioner to the effect that the F
previous service as Chief Justice of a High Court not being one under the
Government of the Union must be held to be not covered by the proviso
~--t cannot be accepted, reading the Rules as a whole. The proviso to Rule 3(b)·
would apply to the retired Chief Justice of India or the retired Chief
Justice of a High Court and the pension which they are in receipt of, apart
G
from the disability or wound pension, has to be deducted from their salary,
which they are entitled to under the Rules. [579-B-D]
4. In the absence of any definition of the expression 're-employment'
and applying the common parlance theory, the appointment of the peti-
'"""'- tioner as Member, NHRC would tantamount to 're-employment' and, H
570 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 2 S.C.R.
A therefore, for such period of service as Member, NHRC no gratuity would
be payable. [580-CJ
5. The petitioner did encash the cash equivalent of leave for the
period of 240 days, when he retired as a Chief Justice of a High Court. But
the petitioner has not been allowed to encash his earned leave as Member,
B NHRC since he had already encashed the maximum period of 240 days
under Rule 4(2) of the Conditions. of Service Rules, which sub-rule pro-
vides for encashment of leave. On a bare reading of Rule 4(2) it is not
possible to accept the contention of the petitioner that the expression
'previous service' must refer to the service rendered by the petitioner as
c Chairman, Central Administrative Tribunal and not the service rendered
as Chief Justice of a High Court cannot be accepted inasmuch as what is
intended in the aforesaid Rule is that no one would be allowed to encash
leave for a period more than 240 days and since the petitioner did encash
the earned leave for 240 days as a Chief Justice of a High Court, he would
not be entitled to further encashment for the period of the earned leave,
D
which he might have earned as Member, NHRC under 4(1) of the Condi-
tions of Service Rules. The petitione_r, therefore, has rightly not been al-
lowed to encash his leave in question. [580-E-H; 581-A·B]
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION : Writ Petition (C) No. 203 of
E 2000.
under AI1icle 32 of the Constitution of India.
T.L.V. Iyer, S. Balakrishnan, Subramonium Prasad and M.K. Namboodiry
for the Petitioner.
F Rajiv Nanda and Ms. Sushma Suri for the Respondents.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
PATTANAIK, J. This petition under Article 32 is by the retired Chief
Justice of High Court of Kerala. The grievance of the petitioner is that he
G has been illegally denied of certain monetary benefit when he served as a
Member of the National Human Rights Commission. It is the case of the
petitioner that after retiring as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court on
11th June, 1991, he was appointed as Chairman of the Central Administrative
Tribunal on 5.12.1991. On his retirement from the Tribunal he was appointed
H as a Member of the National Human Rights Commission on 14.9.94 and
V.S. MALLIMATII v. U.0.1. [PA'ITANAIK, J.] 571
continued there till he attained the age of 70 years. While he was continuing A
as a Member of the National Human Rights Commission he was not granted
full salary, which he was entitled to under the relevant Rules, and on the other
hand deductions were made under the Proviso to Rule 3 of the Rules. The
contention of the petitioner is that the said Proviso will have no application.
The further grievance of the petitioner is that on his retirement from the
B
Commission he was entitled to retiral benefit of gratuity for the period
he rendered service as a Member of the National Human Rights
Commission, but even that was illegally denied. The third grievance of the
petitioner is that the leave which he earned as a Member of the Human Rights
Commission was not allowed to be encashed on an erroneous interpretation
of the Rules and thereby he was illegally denied of his rights. The Union of c
India in the Ministry of Home Affairs rejected all the claims of the petitioner
on the ground that the relevant Rules do not permit the claims of the
petitioner.
The National Human Rights Commission has been constituted under
D
the Protection of the Human Rights Commission Act, I 993(for short 'the
Act'). Under Section 3(2) of the said Act, the Chairperson would be one.who
has been a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a Member could be
appointed who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court and another
Member to be appointed is, who is or has been, the Chief Justice of the High
Court. Apart from these three, two Members are to be appointed from E
amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters
relating to human rights. The term of office of a Member is 5 years from
the date on which he assumes charge of office. But no one can be retained
after attaining the age of 70 years. Section 8 of the Act provides that the
salaries and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of service F
of Members shall be such as. may be prescribed. The expression 'prescribed'
has been defmed in Section 2 (I) to mean prescribed by rules made under
this Act. Section 40 confers power on the Central Government to make rules
by notification to carry out the provisions of the Act. Section 41 confers
power on the State Government to make Rules by notification to carry out
the provisions of the Act. Ju exercise of power conferred under Section 40 G
of the Act "-e Central Government has framed the Rules, called, The National
Human Rights Commission Chairperson and Members (Salaries, Allowances
and other Conditions of Service) Rules, 1993, (hereinafter referred to as 'The
Conditions of Service Rules). Rule 3 provides that there shall be paid to a
Member, a salary which is equal to the salary of a Judge of the Supreme H
572 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 2 S.C.R.
A Court. Proviso to the said Provision, however, stipulates that the said Member,
if is in receipt of the pension other than disability or wound pension, in
respect of any previous service under the Government of the Union or the
Government of a State, then his salary in respect of a service as a Member
shall be reduced. The bone of contention of the petitioner is that the pension
he receives as a Retired Chief Justice of Kerala High Court cannot be
B
deducted from his salary as a Member of the National Hnman Rights
Commission under the Proviso to Rule 3(b), inasmuch as the services of the
Chief Jnstice cannot be held to be a service under the Government of the
Union or the Government of a State. Thus, Rule 3(b) is required to be
interpreted by this Court. The aforesaid Rule 3(b) is extracted herein below
c in extenso:-
"3(b) - a Member, a salary which is equal to the salary of a Judge
of the Supreme Court:
Provided that if the Chairperson or a Member at the time of his
D appointment was in receipt of, or being eligible so to do, had elected
to draw, a pension (other than disability or wound pension) in respect
of any previous service under the Government of the Union or
Government of a State, his salary in respect of service as a Chairper-
son or as the case may be a Member shall be reduced:
E (i) by the amount of that pension;
(ii) if he had, before assnming office, received, in lien of a portion
of pension due to him in respect of such previous service, the
commuted value thereof by the amount of that portion of the
pension; and
F
(iii) by any other form of retirement benefits, being drawn or availed
of or to be drawn or availed of by him."
Rule 4 deals with the leave and Rule 4(2) deals with encashment of
leave salary in respect of earned leave standing to the credit of the Member.
G
The contention of the petitioner is that the expression 'maximnm of leave
encashed under this sub-rule ·or at the time of retirement from previous
service, as the case may be or taken together shall not in any case exceed
240 days' would mean his just immediate previous service, and in his case
it would be his service as the Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal
H and would not bring within its sweep the encashment of leave which he has
V.S. MALLIMATH v. U.O.l. [PATTANAIK, J.] 573
made as the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. Thus Rule 4(2) crops up for A
interpretation of this Court. Said Rules 4(1) and 4(2) of the Rules are
extracted herein below in extenso :-
"4(1) -A person, on appointment as Chairperson or as a Member shall
be entitled to leave as follows :
B
(i) earned leave @ fifteen days for every completed calendar year
of service or a part thereof;
(ii) half pay leave on medical certificate or on private affairs @
twenty days in respect of each completed year of service and
the leave salary for half pay leave shall be equivalent to half of c
the leave salary admissible during the earned leave;
(iii) leave on half pay can be commuted to full pay leave at the
discretion of Chairperson or a Member if it is taken on medical
ground and is supported by a medical certificate from the
D
competent medical authority;
(iv) extraordinary leave without pay and allowances upto a maxi-
mum of one hundred eighty days in one term of office.
(2) On the expiry of his term of office in the National Human Rights E
Commission, the Chairperson and Members shall be entitled to
receive cash equivalent of leave salary in respect of earned leave
standing to his credit subject to the condition that the maximum of
leave encashed under this sub-rule or at the time of retirement from
previous service, as the case may be or taken together shall not in any
case exceed 240 days." F
Aforesaid Rule 4(2) has been amended by Notification dated 28th July, 1999,
and in place of the words '240 days' substitution has been made to the effect
'the maximum period prescribed for encashment of such leave under the All
India Service (Leave) Rules 1955'. Though the conditions of Service Rules
G
has no provision for payment of gratuity, but under Rule 10, the conditions
of service of the Chairperson and Members for which no express provision
is made in the Rules has to be dete1mined by Rules and Orders for the time
being applicable to the Secretary to the Government of India belonging to
the Indian Administrative Services. By the aforesaid provision the All India
Services-death-cum retirement benefit Rules, 1958 applies also to the Mem- H
574 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 2 S.C.R.
A bers of the Commission in respect of matters for which there is no provision
in the Conditions of Service Rules. Under the All India Service Rules, though
it has been provided for payment of gratuity for the services rendered, but
it has also been stated that no gratuity would be payable on re-employment,
as provided under Central Civil Services (Fixation of Pay of Re-employed
Pensioners) Orders, 1986. The stand of the petitioner is that the appointment
B
as a Member in the National Human Rights Commission cannot be termed
as re- employment, and therefore, he would be entitled to the gratuity for the
period of service rendered by him as a Member, Human Rights Commission.
Thus Rule IO and the relevant provision of All India Service Death-cum-
Retirement benefit Rules, 1958, as well as the Central Civil Services (Fixation
c of Pay of Re-employed Pensioners) Orders, 1986, crop up for interpretation.
The relevant Provision of the said Death-cum Retirement Benefit Rules is
extracted below:-
"Rule 17(I) Retiring Pension and Gratuity- A retiring pension and
death-cum-retirement gratuity shall be granted to a member of the
D Service who retires or is required to retire under rule 16.
Rule 18. Amount of Gratuity or Pension.- (a) Incaseamemberofthe
Service retires from service in accordance with the provisions of these
rules, before completing qualifying service of ten years, gratuity shall
be admissible at the rate of half month's pay of each completed six
E monthly periods of qualifying service.
(b)(i) In case a member of the service retires from service in
accordance with the provisions of these rules, after completing
qualifying service of thirty-three 'years or more, pension shall be
admissible to him at the rate of fifty per cent of the average
F emoluments reckonable for pension. 4-
(ii) In case a member of the Service retires from service in accordance
with the provisions of these rules after completing 10 years of
qualifying service but less than 33 years of qualifying service, the
pension admissible, to him shall be such proportion of the maximum
G
pension admissible under clause (a) of this sub-rule as the qualifying
service rendered by him bears to the qualifying service of 33 years.
(2) An Indian Civil Service member of the Indian Administrative
Service shall be entitled to receive an annuity of Rs.13,333,33 :
H Provided that if any such member for the death-cum-retirement
•
I
I v.s. MALLIMATH v. u.o.r. [PATTANAIK, J.] 575
gratuity scheme, his annuity shall be reduced by the annuity equiva- A
lent of the amount of gratuity:
Provided that the amount of invalid pension shall not be less than
the amount of family pension admissible under sub-rule (2) of rule
22B.
B
[Note: A member of the Service retired from service before !st
day of January, 1986, shall be granted such additional relief in
pension as may be sanctioned by the Central Government.]"
Rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Fixation of Pay of Re- employed
Pensioners) Orders, 1986 is quoted herein below:
c
"14. Gratuity/Death/Retirement Gratuity- Re-employed officers shall
not be eligible for any gratuity/death/retirement gratuity for the period
of re-employment except in those cases covered in Rules 18 and
19 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, and corre- D
sponding rules of the Defence Services Regulations."
Mr. T.V.L. Iyer, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner
contends that the post of Chief Justice of a High Court is a constitutional post
and, therefore, services rendered as the Chief Justice of a High Comt cannot
be held to be a service under the Government. Since Proviso to Rule 3(b) E
of the Conditions of Service Rules stipulates that pension received by a
Member in respect of any previous service under the Government of Union
or Government of a State could be deducted from the salary, the pension
which the petitioner was receiving as Chief Justice will not come within the
sweep of the Proviso to Rule 3 (b) and, therefore, the petitioner was entitled F
' to receive the salary equal to the salary of a Judge of the Supreme Court and
no deduction could be made. The stand of the Union Government, on the
other hand is, that the word 'Government' in the proviso to Rule 3 (b) should
not be interpreted narrowly to mean, the Executive Government but should
be interpreted in a broader sense to include the three organs of the
State, namely, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary and such an
G
interpretation being given the pension received by the petitioner as Chief
Justice of Kerala High Court has to be deducted from the salary receivable
as a Member of the Commission in terms of the Proviso to Rule 3(b).
Mr. Iyer appearing for the petitioner relied upon the decision of this Court
in Union of India and Ors. v. Pratibha Banerjee and Anr., [1995] 6 Supreme H
576 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 2 S.C.R.
A Court Cases, 765, where this Court has held that the Judge of a High Court
is a holder of constitutional office and not a Government servant. In the
aforesaid case one Pratibha Banerjee, who retired as a Judge of a Calcutta
High.Court with effect from 16.2.1989 was appointed as a Vice-Chairman of
-
the Central Administrative Tribunal on 3.3.1989 and relinquished said post
on 16.2.1992, the question for consideration was for the aforesaid period from
B
3.3.89 till 16.2.92 what would be her pension. While she had claimed that
she was entitled to pension admissible under Part I of the First Schedule to
the Act, it was the contention of the Union Government that pension would
be admissible under Part III of the First Schedule to the Act. The salary and
allowances of the Vice-Chairman and Member of the Central Administrative
c Tribunal is determined under a set of Rules, called, Central Administrative
Tribunal (Salaries and allowances and conditions of Service of Chairman,
Vice-Chairman and Members) Rules, 1985. Rule 15(A) provides that the
conditions of service and other perquisites available to the Chairman, Vice-
Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal shall be the same as
admissible to a serving Judge of the High Court as contained in the High
D
Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Act, 1954, and the High Court Judges
(Travelling Allowances) Rules, 1956. Under the High Court Judges Condi-
lions of Service Act, 1954 a Judge of a High Court is entitled to pension under
Chapter III of the Act and Section 14 provides that every Judge on retirement
be paid a pension in accordance with the scale and provisions in Part I of
E the First Schedule provided he is not a member of a JCS or has not held any .,..
.
other pensionable post under the Union or the State. Section 15, however,
provides that a Judge who is not a Member of !CS but has held any other
pensionable civil post under the Union or the State, shall, on retirement be
paid a pension in accordance with the scale and provisions in Part III of the
F First Schedule. On interpretation of the aforesaid provisions this Court held
that the provisions of Part III would apply to a Judge who has held any
pensionable post under the Union or State but is not a Member of !CS and ..; •'
who has not elected to receive the pension payable under Part I. Pratibha
Banerjee having been appointed as a Judge of a High Court from the Bar,
on her retirement she. became entitled to pension under Part I of the First
G Schedule. When she was appointed as Vice Chairman of Central Adminis-
trative Tribunal she was already drawing pension as Judge of the High Court
under Part I of the First Schedule. The question for consideration was whether
for the services rendered as Vice Chairman of the Tribunal she would get fa-"
pension under Part I or Part III. It was the contention of the Union Govern-
H rnent that since she was holding a pensionable post under the Union/State at
\
V.S. MALLIMATH v. U.O.I. [PAITANAIK, J.] 577
the time when she retired as Vice-Chairman of the Tribunal her case would A
be governed by Part III. This contention, however, was rejected by this Court
and the Court held that it cannot be said that a Judge of the High Court holds
a post under the Union or the State. The Court lhen went on examining the
scheme of the Constitution and how the Constitution makers were lceen to
ensure that the Judiciary was independent of the Executive and an independ-
B
ent, impartial and fearless Judiciary is our constitutional creed. The Court also
took note of ArticJes 233 to 237 and pointed out how even the subordinate
judiciary has been insulated from any executive influence and ultimately
came to the conclusion that there is no relationship of master and servant
between the Government and the Judges of the High Court, and consequently,
it cannot be said .that a Judge of the High Court holds a post under the Union/c
State. Though certain broad observations made in the aforesaid case might
support the contention of Mr. Iyer, but we find it difficult to accept the
contention of Mr. Iyer that the pension received by a Judge of the High Court
shall not be taken into account for detennining his salary as a Member of
the Human Rights Commission as the services of a Judge of the High Court
D
by no stretch of imagination, even though pensionable, can at all be intended
to be excluded for detennining the salary which such Member on retirement
as a Judge or Chief Justice of a High Court is entitled to receive under Rule
3(b) of the Rules. In Pra1ibha Banerjee's case [1995) 6 SCC 765, this Court
on interpreting Articles 50, 214, 217, 219 and 221 of the Constitution, did
come to the conclusion that a Judge of a High Court belongs to the third organ E
of the State, which is independent of the other two organs namely the
Executive and the Legislature. It is in that sense the Court further observed
that a Judge of the High Court occupies a unique position under the
Constitution. But conferring that status to a Judge of tl1e High Court, so as
to enable him to discharge his duties without fear or favour, affection or ill F
will, bas got nothing to do in interpreting a particular provision of the Rules
governing the service conditions of the Chairman and Members of the Human
Rights Commission, when such Judge on retirement as Chief Justice, is
appointed as a member of the Human Rights Commission. We are also not
in a position to accept the contention that by interpreting, that pension
received by a retired Chief Justice of a High Court is to be deducted from G
the salary which he is entitled to, as a Member of the Human Rights
Commission, under the proviso to Rule 3(b) would in any way affect the
independence of the judiciary nor would it affect the constitutional scheme
and the unique position, a Judge occupies under the Constitution, as discussed
in PraJiblta Banerjee's case. It would be appropriate at this stage to notice H
578 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 2 S.C.R.
A an earlier Judgment of this Court in Pashupati Nath Sukul v. Nem Chandra
Jain and Ors., [1984] 2 SCC 404 where the Court was considering lhe
question whether the Secretary of a State Legislative Assembly can be held
to be qualified to be appointed as Returning Officer for election to Rajya
Sabha and it is in that context, Articles 102(l)(a), 191(1)(a) and several other
relevant provisions came up for consideration before the Court. The word
B
'Government' in Article 102(1)(a) and Article 191(1)(a) of the Constitution
was construed by the Court and it was held that the expression "an officer
I
of Government" in Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, ,\.
should be interpreted liberally so as to include within its scope the Legisla-
ture, the Executive and the Judiciary and the Court further observed that an
C officer of the State Legislature, though belongs under Article 187 to the staff
of the State Legislature, is still an 'officer of Government' in the sense the
expression 'Government' is used in Articles 102(1)(a) and 191(l)(a). In the
aforesaid case, this Court had observed that all the three organs, the Legis-
lature, the Executive and the Judicia1y are concerned with the governance of ·'t"'
D the country and in this sense, all the three organs together constitute the
Government at their respective level. The Court had also noticed the fact that
the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, though is assigned an inde-
pendent status, is an officer under the Union Government, as was held in the
case of Gurugobinda Basu v. Sankari Prasad Ghosal, [1964) 4 SCR 311. The
Court further observed that the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and
E the Judges of the Supreme Court and of a High Court are not eligible to
contest elections to Parliament and the State Legislatures in view of A.t1icle
102(1)(a) and Article 191(1)(a) of the Constitution, as the case may be,
because they are serving in connection with the affairs of the Union [see
Article 360(4)(b) of the Constitution] and are, therefore, holding offices of
F profit under the Central Government. The expression 'Government' used in
proviso to Rule 3(b) has, therefore, to be construed in the wider sense and
the services rendered by a Judge or Chief Justice of a High Court must be
held to be as a service in connection with the affairs of the Union and as
such the proviso to Rule 3(b) of the Rules would govern the case of such
retired Judge or Chief Justice in determining the salary, which he would be
G entitled to, on being appointed as a Member of the Human Rights Commis-
sion. The question can also be considered from yet another angle. Under the
provisions of the Human Rights Commission Act, 1993, the Chairperson
would be one who has been a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a
Member could be appointed who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court
H and another Member, who is or bas been the Chief Justice of the High Court.
I
V.S. MALLIMATH v. U.0.l. [PATTANAIK, J.] 579
In the Rules, when the Rule Making Authority provided for a salary to be A
paid to a member under Rule 3(b), a proviso was inserted for deduction from
such salary, the amount of pension other than disability or wound pension,
which such Member was in receipt of, in respect of any previous salaries.
The intention of the Rule making authority is crystal clear that any pension
which a Member has been in receipt of, for the services rendered earlier, has
B
to be deducted from the salary, which under the Rules has been indicated to
be equal to the salary of the Judge of the Supreme Court. The contention of
the petitioner to the effect that the previous service as Chief Justice of a High
Court not being one under the Government of the Union, must be held to
be not covered by the proviso, cannot be accepted, reading the mies as a
whole. We have, therefore, no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the c
proviso to Rule 3(b) would apply to the retired Chief Justice of India or the
retired Chief Justice of a High Court and the pension which they are in receipt
of, apart from the disability or wound pension, has to be deducted from their
salary, which they are entitled to under the Rules. The contention of Mr. Iyer,
appearing for the petitioner, on this score, therefore cannot be sustained.
D
Coming to the question whether a Member of the Human Rights
Commission, is entitled to gratuity for the period he serves the Commission,
it appears that there bas been no such provision in the Rules, entitling a
Member to claim gratuity. Rule 10 of the Rules, however stipulates that the
"""; conditions of service of the Chairperson and the Members for which no E
express provision is made in the Rules, shall be determined by the mies and
orders applicable to a Secretary to the Government of India belonging to
Indian Administrative Service. So far as the service conditions of a Secretary
to the Government of India belonging to the Indian Administrative Service
is concerned, the same is governed by a set of Rules framed under Section F
3(1) of the All India Services Act, 1951 called the All India Services (Death-
*- cum- Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958. Under the aforesaid Rules, retirement
gratuity is granted to a Member of the Service, who retires or is required to
retire under Rule 16, as provided in Rule 17 of the Rules. The amount of
gratuity is computed under Rule 18. The enabling provisions contained in
Rules 16, 17 and 18 do not provide for payment of gratuity for a re-employed G
person. The President of India, however, in supersession of all the earlier
orders in relation to fixation of pay of re-employed pensioners, promulgated
---i.i..... an Order called the Central Civil Services (Fixation of Pay of Re-employed
·' Pensioners) Orders, 1986. The aforesaid order applies to all the persons who
are n;,employed in Civil Services and posts
~~ .
in connection with the affairs of H
580 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 2 S.C.R.
A the Union Government, after retirement on getting pension, gratuity and/or ·-~
\ Contributory Provident Fund benefits. Rule 14 of the aforesaid orders, .i--
stipulates that re-employed officers shall not be eligible for any gratuity/death/
retirement gratuity, for the period of re-employment, except in those cases
covered in Rules 18 and 19 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules,
1972. The petitioner's case is not covered under the aforesaid provisions of
B
the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. Therefore, the question for
consideration is whether the appointment of the petitioner as a Member of
the Human Rights Commission would tantamount to re-employment. In the
absence of any definition of the expression 're· employment' and applying
the common parlance theory, the conclusion is irresistible that the said
c appointment would tantamount to 're-employment' and, therefore, for such
period of service as Member of the Human Rights Commission, no gratuity
would be payable.
The only other question that remains for consideration is the claim of
encashment of leave. Under the Rules, Rule 4 entitles a person, on appoint-
D
ment as Chairperson or as a Member for earned leave and half pay leave on
medical certificate and extraordinary leave. Rule 4(2) is relevant for our
purpose which unequivocally indicates that on the expiry of the term of office
in the National Commission, the Chairperson and Members shall be entitled
to receive cash equivalent of leave salary in respect of earned leave, standing
E to his credit subject to the condition that the maximum of leave encashed y-
under this sub-rule or at the time of retirement from previous service, as the
case may be or taken together shall not in any case exceed 240 days. The
petitioner did encash the cash equivalent of leave for the period of 240 days,
when he retired as the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. In accordance with
Rule 4 of the Rules, he had earned, earned leave for 68 days. But he has
F
not been allowed to encash the same, since he had already encashed the •
maximum period of 240 days under sub-rule (2) of Rule 4, which sub-rule ~
provides for encashment of leave. The petitioner's contention however, is that
the expression "previous service" in sub-rule (2) must refer to the preceding
service, which the petitioner had served as Chairperson of the Central
G Administrative Tribunal and since he had earned only 161 days' of earned
leave as Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal, the maximum
period provided under sub-rule (2) wiU not apply to bis case, even though
.~
he has encashed the leave for 240 days, as the Chief Justice of Kerala High
Court. On a bare reading of the aforesaid provisions contained in sub-rule
H (2) of Rule 4, we are unable to accept this contention inasmuch as what is
~
\
V.S. MALLIMATH v. U.0.1. [PATTANAIK, J.] 581
intended in the aforesaid rule is that no-one would be allowed to encash leave A
for a period more than 240 days and since the petitioner did encash the earned
leave for 240 days as the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, he would not
be entitled to further encashment for the period of 68 days of earned leave,
which he might have earned as a Member of the Human Rights Commission
under Rule 4(1) of the Rules. The petitioner, therefore, has rightl?' not been
B
allowed to encash his leave in question. In view of our conclusions on the
three items of claim made by the petitioner, we do not see any violation of
fundamental rights of the petitioner and as such this petition under Article
32 is dismissed.
v.s.s. Petition dismissed. C
;..
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