SC stays contempt against Centre over pension to DU teachers

The Supreme Court today stayed the contempt proceedings initiated against the HRD ministry, the Delhi University and its vice-chancellor for denying pension to retired teachers despite a Delhi High Court order.
A bench comprising Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta issued notices to all the teachers and sought their reply on the plea filed by the Delhi University against initiation of the contempt proceedings against the varsity and others.
The order came after senior advocate Aman Sinha, appearing for the Delhi University, said that these employees had consciously chosen Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) scheme over General Provident Fund (GPF) scheme.

He said that after availing benefit for 30 years, to turn around and seek GPF would be legally impermissible against the judgments of the apex court.
The lawyer also stated that such action will encourage similar demands from a large number of government employees who had chosen CPF decades ago.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi University against the High Court's order to give pension to the retired teachers.
The Delhi High Court had directed the Delhi university, the University Grants Commission and the HRD ministry to deposit around Rs 50 crore by July 19 failing which action would be taken against alleged contemnors.