AJI V S Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) FIRST petitioner was a Draftsman Grade-II in the Soil Conservation Unit of the Agricultural Department. Petitioners 2 and 3 were working as Surveyors in the same Unit. Similarly, the 4th petitioner was working as Draftsman Grade-I. According to the petitioners, in so far as the pay scale is concerned, even in the 1997 pay revision order which came into force with effect from 1.3.1997, they were treated on par with their counterparts in the PWD and were given pay in the scale of Rs.3590-5400.

(2.) PETITIONERS submit that in paragraph 6 of the pay revision order the Government reserved power to increase the scale of pay of certain categories of non clerical staff to the pay applicable to the next higher cadre. It is stated that based on the representations made by their counterparts in the PWD, the Government issued Ext.P1 order dated 8.6.2001 revising the pay of their counterparts as Rs.4000- 6090 with effect from 1.6.2002.

(3.) HOWEVER, in the counter affidavit filed, the Government is disputing the claims in the writ petition. According to the Government, method of recruitment, qualifications and duties discharged by the employees of these departments are different. It is stated that therefore, when representations were received from the petitioners, it was decided by the Government to defer consideration of the same. On this basis, Government is attempting to justify their order.