Fresh pension option for retired railway servants and cut-off date validity referred to a larger Bench

Retired railway servants who had earlier opted for the pension scheme were considered on the question whether they could be given a fresh option after pensionary benefits were enhanced, and whether a cut-off date for exercising that option was impermissible. The Supreme Court found that these issues required consideration by a larger Bench and directed that the papers be placed before the learned Chief Justice for appropriate orders. The text does not record a final ruling on entitlement to a fresh option or on the validity of the cut-off date.

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Issues: Whether retired railway servants who had earlier the option to choose the pension scheme could be granted a fresh option in view of the increased pensionary benefits, and whether fixation of a cut-off date for such option was impermissible.

Outcome: The matter was found to require consideration by a larger Bench and the papers were directed to be placed before the learned Chief Justice for appropriate orders.

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