STATE OF KARNATAKA Vs. KARNATAKA STATE PATELS SANGHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals are directed against the orders passed by learned Division Bench of the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore dated 25.2.2002 and 18.7.2005 whereby the Division Bench of the High Court has affirmed the direction given by the learned Single Judge which reads as follows:

(2.) Respondent No.1 is Karnataka State Patels Sangha and Respondent No. 2 is Patel Srinivasa Reddy. The present writ petition was filed by the respondents claiming similar treatment as was given to Shanbhogues category of Village Officers. The contention in the writ petition was that both Patels as well as Shanbhogues are holders of similar offices within the meaning of Section 2(n) of the Karnataka Village Offices Abolition Act, 1961 ( hereinafter to be referred to as "the Act"). After abolition of these village offices, Shanbhogues were granted compassionate allowance or ad hoc pension at the rate of Rs.100/- per month with effect from 30.7.1979 and the same was raised to Rs.500/- per month with effect from 20.7.1991. So far as Patels are concerned, their demand for grant of similar treatment i.e. ad hoc pension or compassionate allowance at the rate of Rs.100/- per month was also conceded by the State with effect from 1.8.1984 and similarly, the enhancement of compassionate allowance was also made to Rs.500/- per month with effect from 30.5.1994. Therefore, the grievance of the Association of Patels i.e. the members of the Association was that when the Shanbhogues were given the benefit w.e.f. 30.7.79 & 20.7.1991, then similar treatment should also be given to the members of the Respondent No.1- Association with effect from the same date as they were similarly situated. Since it was denied to them, therefore, they filed writ petition in the High Court of Karnataka seeking a direction against the State Government for extending the similar benefit as was given to the Shanbhogues. Learned Single Judge of the High Court allowed the writ petition and granted similar benefit with retrospective effect as was given to the Shanbhogues i.e. ad hoc pension of Rs.100/- with effect from the same date as was given to the Shanbhogues Village Officers and likewise enhanced allowance at the rate of Rs.500/- from the same date as was given to the Shanbhogues. Aggrieved against the order of the learned Single Judge, the matter was taken up before the Division Bench and the Division Bench affirmed the order of the learned Single Judge. Aggrieved against the order of the Division Bench of the High Court the appellants have filed the present appeals.

(3.) Mr. Hegde, learned counsel appearing for the State Government strenuously urged before us that the position of the Shanbhogues and that of the Patels are different and their duties are also different. Therefore, the respondents cannot claim similar treatment. Mr.Hegde tried to take us to the history in order to justify that these two offices are separate and they were not discharging similar duties. Therefore, they cannot claim parity and the view taken by the Karnataka High Court is not sustainable. We need not go to the background because the two orders which have been produced under which the allowance was given to the Patels on the understanding that both the offices are similar and they used to discharge similar duties. Therefore, similar treatment was conceded by the State. But only difficulty was that for Shanbhogues employees compassionate allowance at the rate of Rs.100/- per month was given with effect from 30.7.1979 and to the Patels it was given with effect from 1.8.1984 and the same was enhanced to Rs.500/- per month with effect from 30.5.1994 instead of from 1991. This grievance was redressed by learned Single Judge and rightly so in our opinion because once both the offices i.e. village Offices were held hereditarily by the two class of persons and they were discharging same revenue functions, then there should not have been any discrimination between the persons similarly situated. The High Court has rightly granted the respondents the same treatment from the same date as was given to the Shanbhogues. Once it is accepted by the State Government that they were similarly placed and they were discharging similar duties, then there was no justification on the part of the State Government not to give the same treatment from the same date as was given to Shanbhogues. Mr.Hegde, learned counsel for the appellants tried to take us through the judgment of learned Single Judge which goes back into the history and tried to justify the action of the State Government. But in view of the fact that when the State Government themselves have conceded and granted similar treatment to the Patels taking them to be similarly situated, then there was no justification to deny them the similar treatment as was given to the Shanbhogues employees.