PONDICHERRY JUDICIAL OFFICERS WELFARE ASSOCATION PONDICHERRY DISTRICT COURT BUILDINGS Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS Writ Petition is filed by the Pondicherry Judicial Officers' Welfare Association, represented by its Secretary.

(2.) GOVERNMENT of Pondicherry in consultation with the High Court of Judicature at Madras framed the Pondicherry Judicial Service Rules 1980 under Article 309 of the Constitution of India. The said Rules provide for constitution of judicial service to the Union Territory of Pondicherry and also for all matters relating to recruitment, confirmation, promotion etc. of the members of the Judicial Service. The Judiciary consists of three categories of Judicial Officers, namely, District Judges (Senior Scale Grade) 2) Subordinate Judges and Chief Judicial Magistrates (Junior Scale-Grade I) and 3) District Munsifs/Magistrates (Junior Scale-Grade II).

(3.) IT is alleged in the affidavit that Judicial Officers in Pondicherry are equally qualified and experienced as that of their counterparts in Delhi. They are also doing identical work that the Delhi Judicial Officers are discharging, and the Service Rules of Pondicherry is a verbatim reproduction of the Delhi Judicial are Higher Judicial Service Rules. The Union Territory of Pondicherry also enjoys identical Constitutional status as of Delhi.