LAWS(DLH)-2006-5-148

DESH RAJ Vs. DELHI JAL BOARD

Decided On May 02, 2006
BHAGWAN DASS Appellant
V/S
DELHI JAL BOARD Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Issue Rule. In these writ proceedings, common question of facts of law arise for consideration. In W.P.(C) 15935/2004, the petitioner has raised an additional issue which would be considered later during the course of the judgment. With consent of learned counsel for parties, the above writ petitions were heard finally, today.

(2.) All the petitioners in these cases were appointed to various posts such as Pump Drivers/Assistant Pump Drivers/Fitters/Sewer Cleaning Machine Driver etc. They were initially appointed by the erstwhile Delhi Water Supply and Sewage Board which was under the statutory and administrative control of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Subsequently, with enactment of the Delhi Water Board Act, 1998, a Board by the name of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) was created. The petitioners' services were transferred to the Board which is the common respondent in all these proceedings.

(3.) It is contended on behalf of the petitioners that they were all recruited to the positions/posts, by the erstwhile D.W.S.S.B. in the 1980s and 1990s. Initially they were engaged on ad hoc/daily wages basis and later assigned to the duties in respect of the posts which they are currently holding. It is also the case of the petitioners that all of them are holders of Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. It is claimed that the respondent acted arbitrarily and contrary to law in continuing them in the same post without any further career progress.