In Brief
Steel Authority of India Ltd challenged a High Court order directing it to consider allotting official quarters on long-term lease to 53 ex-employees who had separated under a voluntary retirement scheme. The ex-employees had initially been allowed to occupy quarters for 22 months, which was extended. The Supreme Court held that the ex-employees had no legal right to long-term lease under the 2002 housing scheme, which applied only to serving employees. Moreover, changed circumstances between 2002 and 2018—including planned production expansion requiring additional accommodation for new employees and government agencies, and Cabinet prohibitions on long-term leases—made the grant infeasible. The Court allowed the appeal but permitted the ex-employees to remain in occupation for 33 months.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.