CHANDIGARH ADMINISTRATION Vs. NAURANG SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is preferred against the judgment of the central Administrative tribunal, Chandigarh allowing the original application filed by Respondents 1 to 5 herein. The respondents are storekeepers in the Punjab Engineering College. Their claim before the tribunal was that they are entitled to the pay scale of Rs. 570-1080 as has been given to five other storekeepers in the same college. The respondents invoked the principle "equal pay for equal work". The tribunal has upheld their claim.

(2.) By Notification dated 1/11/1966 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India, the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh was required to follow the pattern of Punjab government with respect to the nature of the post, pay scale and the revision of pay scales. According to the Punjab pattern, the scale of pay of storekeeper was the same as that of the clerks namely Rs. 60-175 which was later revised to Rs. 110-250. However, on the basis of a letter written by the Principal of the Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, the Chandigarh Administration revised the pay scales of three categories including that of storekeeper. As against the pay scale of Rs. 110-250, the pay scale of Rs. 160-400 was extended to the storekeepers. Because of this proceeding, the five storekeepers working in the College at that time got the benefit of the said higher pay scale.

(3.) In 1978-79, the Chandigarh Administration accepted and brought into force the recommendations of the Second Pay Revision Committee. According to this recommendation, the pay scale of the storekeeper was kept at the same level as that of the clerk. (By that date the pay scale of Rs. 160-400 was revised to Rs. 570-1080. ) The Pay Revision Committee recommended the pay scale of Rs. 400-600 for the post of storekeeper.