Judgment:
ORDER
K. Ramamoorthy, J.
1. Seven petitioners have filed the writ petition claiming pensionary benefits. The first and seventh petitioners are associations and petitioners 2 to 5 are individuals. The prayer made is for a declaration that petitioners 2 to 6 and similarly situate retired employees and from Bhilai Steel Plant and Rourkela Steel Plant of the Steel Authority of India with the SAIL Employees. Pension Scheme was introduced for SAIL employees retiring after 1.1.1989. On introduction of scheme necessary recovery has been effected by the managements of various Steel Plants of SAIL, including Bhilai and Rourkela Steel Plants. As such the petitioners are also eligible to receive pension since necessary recovery had been affected by the steel plants in which they were working. They are now claiming pension from the Steel Authority of India.
2. Mr.Bhim Sain, Senior Manager(Personnel) of respondent No.2 filed a common counter-affidavit on behalf of respondents 2,4 & 5. It is stated in the counter-affidavit that SAIL Employees Superannuation Benefit Fund, (in short SESBF) was constituted in September, 1994 consisting of representatives of the trade unions, Steel Executive Federation of India (SEFI). This is an approved fund within the meaning of Sec.2(6) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The recovery made from the employees is kept in a separate account. It is stated that in 1995, President of India pronounced an Ordinance, namely, Employees Providence Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Ordinance, 1995, providing for the payment annuity and according to them all employees are governed by that statute. Ordinance had become Act and the petitioners are governed by the provisions of the an Act and thereforee, the petition is not maintainable.
3. Having gone through the affidavit exchanged, we are of the view that as the respondent company does not have control over the manner or method of disbursement, including refund, investment or purchase of amenities, which under the framework of the scheme is the responsibility of the Trustees through the Managing Trustees, in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act and the Rules framed thereunder, the petitioners will have to work out their remedy under the provisions of the Act and the Scheme. Filing of petition against the company is not an appropriate relief. They are at liberty to have recourse under the Act and the Scheme against the Managing Trustees.
4. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed. There shall be no orders as to costs.