UNION OF INDIA Vs. D K JAIN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petition is directed against the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (Annexure P-10), dated August 12, 1999, whereby respondents falling in the trade of Fitters (Auto/auto Electric) have been granted pay scale of Rs. 260-350 from 16-10-1981, Before adverting to the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the petitioners, brief narration of facts would be necessary.

(2.) RESPONDENTS are working in the Vehicle Factory, Jabalpur, in the trade of Fitters (Auto) and Fitters (Auto/electrical) in the pay scale of Rs. 210-290. On the recommendations of Third Pay Commission, an Expert Classification Committee was set up in 1974 in the Ministry of Defence, under the Chairmanship of Justice K. C. Puri. The Committee had representatives from two Defence Employees Federations and official members of the Ministry of Defence and Finance. The task of this Committee was to fit the industrial workers in the appropriate pay scales after applying the technique of job evaluation. This Committee submitted its report to the Government in 1979. It recommended 9 pay scales to the industrial workers in the defence establishment which Government reduced to 5 categories.

(3.) SOME of the Unions felt dissatisfied with the pay scales. The result was that Anomalies Committee was constituted in 1983, report of which was implemented from 15-10-1984. Emphasis by learned counsel for the petitioners is laid on the fact that this Anomalies Committee considered the anomalies in the pay scales with respect to 23 trades. The trades of respondents in this case were not before this Committee. However, with respect to 23 trades considered by the Committee, the Committee recommended for grant of pay scale of Rs. 260-400. Consequently, this pay scale was granted to the workers to the 23 trades from 1984. This did not satisfy the workers of the trades, therefore, they challenged the decision claiming pay scales from 16-10-1981. Ultimately, the Supreme Court allowed their claim and they were given this pay scale from 16-10-1981.