G RALKAPTLUANGA Vs. STATE OF MIZORAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners No. 1 -9 are holding the posts of Assstant Soil Conservation Officers (herein after ASCO) and petitioner Nos. 10-12 are also holding the post of Assistant Soil Conservation Engineer (herein after -ASCE) under the Soil and Water Conservation Department, Government of Mizoram and both these posts of ASCO and ASCE carry the same scale of pay of Rs.23 75-3500/-. The grievance of the petitioners here is that they have been unlawfully discriminated by denying them equal pay as enjoyed by their equals.

(2.) All the petitioners joined their services either as ASCO or as ASCE during the period from 1988 to 1994 their respective dates of appointment are shown in the notification dated 24.1.1986 (Annexure -I and I (A). Prior to Revision of Pay Rules, 1986 the scale of pay of the ASCO and ASCE was Rs.650-1200/- and by the said Revision of pay Rules 1986 the pay of the said post has been revised to Rs. 2000-3500/-. After Revision of Pay Rules, 1986 which came into effect from 1.1.1986 the Government of Mizoram constituted a Pay Anomalies Committee to examine certain anomalies in the pay scales of certain posts and as per the report of the Pay Anomalies Committee some of the posts carrying the scale of pay of Rs.2000-3500/- wers revised or upgraded to the scale of pay of RJI. 2200-4000/ - Again, after implementation ofthe report of the aforesaid Pay Anomalies Committee the Government of Mizoram constituted another committee known as Pay Review Committee and the said committee recommended for revision or upgradation of pay scales of some other posts. Even after implementation of the recommendation of the Pay Review Committee another committee known as Cabinet Sub- Committee was again constituted to look into the claims of the Government employees and the said committee i.e. Cabinet SUb-Committee recommended application of the standard conversion of the pay scale for the post of ASCO and ASCE and according;to which the petitioners are now enjoying the: scale of pay of Rs. 2375-3500/-. The petitioners have been making representations to each and every committee for upgrading their scale of pay to that of their equals. As their demand has not been considered by the respondent Government, the petitioners hava approached this Court.

(3.) Heard Mr. Lalramzauva, the learned counsel for the petitioners and also heard Mr. K.N. Madhusudhanan the learned Assistant Advocate General for the respondents.