AGRICULTURAL SUPERVISORS & AGRICULTURE OFFICERS Vs. SECRETARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By way of this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner union has prayed for an appropriate writ, direction or order on the respondents to revise the pay-scale of the petitioners from 1640-2900 to 2000-3500 with effect from 1.1.1986 for the post of Agricultural Officer having qualification of M.Sc. (Agri.).

(2.) An additional affidavit is filed on behalf of respondent No.1, Under Secretary, Agriculture and Cooperation Department, Government of Gujarat dated 8th December 2006. It has been stated in the said affidavit-in-reply that the issue of revision of pay-scale of (1) Agricultural Supervisor from Rs. 1400-2300 to 1640-2900, (2) Agricultural Officer from Rs. 1640-2900 to 2000-3200, and (3) Veterinary Officer from Rs. 1640-2900 to 2000-3500, was referred to Pay Anomaly Committee which was set up by the Finance Department by order dated 20.5.1998 under the Chairmanship of Justice N.B. Patel, the retired Judge of Gujarat High Court; that the Committee after considering several representations made to it, submitted its report to the State Government on 15.5.2000; and the report of the Committee was thereafter placed before a Cabinet Sub-Committee set-up specifically for the purpose of considering the report by the State Government dated 11.1.2001 and 31.1.2001. It is further submitted in the reply that the said Sub-Committee was reconstituted by order dated 27.11.2001 and 10th February 2003 due to reshuffle in the State Cabinet. It is further submitted that the Cabinet Sub-Committee after considering the recommendations made by the Pay Anomaly Committee submitted report on 25.5.2005. The report of the Sub-Committee was placed before the Cabinet in its meeting held on 8.3.2005. It is also submitted in the reply that the Cabinet in principle accepted the report submitted by the Cabinet Sub-Committee and accordingly further consequential steps are being taken in that direction by the State Government.

(3.) As it appears from the additional affidavit-in-reply, the dispute is pending before the State Government and the State Government is yet to take decision on the basis of the report of the Sub-Committee. Under the circumstances, it will not be proper to interfere at this stage and the present Special Civil Application can be disposed of by directing the State Government to take appropriate decision in the subject matter as early as possible.