JOY KUMAR JAMATIA Vs. STATE OF TRIPURA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. R. Datta, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as Mr. M. Debbarma, learned Addl. G.A. appearing for the respondents.

(2.) The writ petitioners in this batch of writ petitions being WP (C)No.1147 of 2018 [Joy Kr. Jamatia v. The State of Tripura and 9 Others], WP (C)No.1148 of 2018 [Pradip Kr. Jamatia v. The State of Tripura and 10 Others], WP (C)No.1149 of 2018 [Anil Debbarma v. The State of Tripura and 9 Others], WP (C)No.1150 of 2018 [Sudharanjan Debbarma v. The State of Tripura and 10 Others], WP (C)No.1151 of 2018 [Sukendu Saha v. The State of Tripura and 10 Others] and WP (C)No.1152 of 2018 [Nepal Sinha v. The State of Tripura and 10 Others] are all engaged as the Junior Mechanic (Group-C) under the Rural Development Department and working in various districts of Tripura. For example, the writ petitioner in WP (C)No.1147 of 2018 is posted under the District Magistrate and Collector, Gomati District, Udaipur, the writ petitioner in WP (C)No.1148 of 2018 is posted under the District Magistrate and Collector, Gomati District, Udaipur, the writ petitioner in WP (C)No.1149 of 2018 is posted under the District Magistrate and Collector, Gomati District, Udaipur, the writ petitioner in WP (C)No.1150 of 2018 is posted under the District Magistrate and Collector, West Tripura District, the writ petitioner in WP (C)No.1151 of 2018 is posted under the District Magistrate and Collector, Khowai District and the writ petitioner in WP (C)No.1152 of 2018 is posted under the District Magistrate and Collector in West Tripura District. As a common question is involved in all these writ petitions, those are consolidated for disposal by a common judgment. The petitioners have urged for limited relief in terms of the Recruitment Rules published by the Principal Secretary, Government of Tripura, General Administration (P and T) Department, Government of Tripura on 28/5/2011 providing that the post of Junior Mechanic/Mechanic (Group-C) (non-gazetted) (technical) shall carry the pay scale of Rs.5310.0024,000/- with the Grade Pay of Rs.1800.00 subject to revision by the State Government from time to time.

(3.) In terms of the said Recruitment Rules, except the petitioners all other Junior Mechanic/Mechanic have been granted the benefit of Grade Pay of Rs.1800.00 instead of Grade Pay of Rs.1700.00 throughout the state. The petitioners, in order to buttress their contention, has produced the order under No.F.4 (12-2)-DM/N/ESTT/2012/198-201 dtd. 22/1/2014. For purpose of further reference, the entire context of the said order [Annexure-7 of the writ petition being WP (C)No.1152 of 2018] is extracted hereunder :