PRATHIBA MALIK Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) COUNSEL for the petitioners is not present. However, first petitioner is present in person. She has argued the matter on behalf of the petitioners. We have also heard Mr. K. Elango, Assistant Solicitor General of India, on behalf of respondents.

(2.) THE question relates to scale of pay to the petitioners who are Hindi Pradhyapaks in Chennai and Pondicherry of Central Hindi Training Institute, New Delhi. The petitioners claim that they should be given higher scale of pay at least on par with Assistant Director (Hindi Typing and Shorthand) working in the same Institute. The duty of Hindi Pradhyapaks is to teach Hindi to all the employees of the Central Government starting from the cadre of Lower Division Clerks to Top level officers. The minimum essential qualification prescribed for such post is M. A. Hindi with English at Degree level and a Bachelor Degree in Education. They were slotted in the pay scale of Rs. 6500-10500/- which came into effect from 1. 1. 1996 and their next promotional post was Assistant Director (Hindi Language ).

(3.) THE petitioners' claim that in the same organisation, direct recruitment is made for the post of Assistant Directors (Hindi Typing and Shorthand) whose duty is to teach Hindi Typing and Shorthand to such clerks/ Typists. The minimum educational qualification prescribed is a pass in Higher Secondary (Plus Two) with knowledge of Hindi Typing and Shorthand. The pay scale prescribed for them is Rs. 7500-12000.