In Brief
Steel Authority of India Ltd appealed a High Court order directing it to consider allotting long-term leases of official quarters to 53 ex-employees who had opted for voluntary retirement in 1999 and were granted temporary 22-month occupancy. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that the 2002 Sail Scheme for long-term leases covered only serving employees, not ex-employees, so no legal right had vested. Additionally, subsequent developments—including production expansion plans and a Cabinet directive prohibiting long-term leases—rendered long-term allocation infeasible. The Court permitted the ex-employees to occupy quarters for 33 months from the judgment date but denied permanent relief."
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