JOHN KONYAK Vs. STATE OF NAGALAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioners who are serving as Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO for short), Village Guard Organization, Department of Home, Government of Nagaland under the Commissioner Nagaland as the Commander in Chief. The petitioners are Jamadars, Subedars and Subedars Majors in the Village Guards.

(2.) The petitioners are aggrieved by alleged anomalies in their Pay scale. It is the case of the petitioners that the pay grade of the petitioners are below the pay grade they are entitled to receive which should be corresponding to the pay scale and grade received by police personnel of Nagaland Police in the same rank.

(3.) It is stated that from the rank of Constable, Village Guard till the rank of Havildar Major, the service of the village guard is voluntary and paid monthly honorarium. From the rank of Jamadar and above the village guards become proper government employees and are paid regular pay scale. According to the petitioners the rank of Jamadar Village Guard is in the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector in the Police Department; the rank of Subedar Village Guard is in the rank of Sub Inspector in the Police Department and the rank of Subedar Major Village Guard is in the rank of Inspector in the Police Department. The next promotion from the rank of Subedar Major Village Guard is Assistant Commandant, whereas, the next promotion from Inspector in the Police department is Deputy Superintendent of Police/Assistant Commandant. The rank of Assistant Commandant and Deputy Superintendent of Police are equivalent, and in this rank, the pay scale becomes equal.