In Brief
Casual workers in Northern Railway who were granted temporary status and later regularized sought full recognition of their temporary service period for pension calculation. The respondents claimed 100% service benefit from the date of temporary status, while the Railway claimed only 50%. The Supreme Court held that under Rule 31 of the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993, casual workers are entitled to reckon only 50% of service rendered during temporary status for pension purposes. Grant of temporary status does not constitute appointment against a post; it confers specific privileges but does not trigger full service counting. The Court allowed the Railway's appeals, setting aside the Delhi High Court and Tribunal judgments, while preserving the Railway Board's discretion to grant relaxation in deserving cases.
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