S L AHMED Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are Radio operators Grade-III (Naik) in the Signals branch of the Central Reserve Police Force. They complain that under the Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1973 they have been placed in the pay scale of Rs. 225-308 when they were entitled to the pay scale of Rupees 260-430.

(2.) When the writ Petition came on for hearing in the first instance, a Bench of the Court made an order on December 19, 1979 providing an opportunity to the petitioners to put in a representation before the Government and requiring the Government to dispose of the representation. The petitioners did make representation and the Government considered it but the relief claimed by the petitioners was denied. In accordance with the further directions contained in the order dated December 19, 1979 this writ petition has now come on for consideration on its merits.

(3.) The Central Reserve Police Force forms a part of the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Government of India, and it has a Signals branch in which one of the categories is that of Radio Operators Grade-III (Naik). The petitioners say that Naik Radio Operators are appointed either by direct recruitment, in which case the candidate is required to be a Matriculate or its equivalent, or by promotion from the rank of Constable, in which case the Constable should have passed the Radio Operators Grade-III course. Originally, members of the Central Reserve Police Force of the rank of Naik enjoyed the pay scale of Rs.85-110, and Naik Radio operators were given a special Pay of Rs. 30/- in view of their special qualifications and the specialised nature of their duties. By its order dated April 23, 1970 the Central Government appointed the Third Pay Commission to make recommendations in regard to the structure of the emoluments and the conditions of service of different classes of Central Government employees. The Commission submitted its final report to the Central Government on March 31, 1973. Paragraph 30 of Chapter 29 of Part I of Volume 2 contains the recommendations in respect of Radio Mechanics in the Central Reserve Police Force. It states:-