HC not to interfere in pleas of former ECIL employees for retirement benefits

Hyderabad: In a huge setback to retired employees of ECIL, who are fighting for pension from the retrospective date and post-retirement medical scheme, the Telangana High Court was not inclined to issue directions to the Union ministry of Atomic Energy and the Electronic Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) to extend such benefits to them.

Justice P. Madhavi Devi said that courts would not interfere in the policy matters of governments or its undertakings.

Some of the retired employees of ECIL made a representation to its chairman and managing director on December 13, 2021, seeking implementation of the pension scheme to all executives, who retired on or after January 1, 2007, as per the MoU between the ECIL management and ECOA, dated 26.05.2009 and to give all the retired employees post-retirement medical benefits by charging nominal amount, as is done by BEL and HAL, Hyderabad.

Prior to submitting the representation, they obtained information under the Right to Information Act with regard to the financial capacity of ECIL. According to the information furnished, the corporation was making sufficient profits and was in a sound financial condition. They were in a position to extend such benefits to retired employees.

However, in response to the representation, the retired employees were informed that implementation of the pension scheme was approved for executives with effect from April 1, 2015 only and not from January 1, 2007. They were ratified by the administrative ministry.

Subsequently, a petition was filed before the High Court in which they stated that most of the retired employees were suffering from ailments and were not financially sound to meet the medical expenditure. .

However, the High Court pointed out that under article 226 they cannot issue directions for implementing schemes or benefits to persons.