PADANG SANGYU Vs. STATE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners, in both these writ petitions, claim benefits as per recommendation of the Fifth Pay Commission being granted revised pay scales in the respective posts. Both these writ petitions facts and involve similar grievances and as such, they are heard analogously for disposal.

(2.) IN the writ petition No. WP (C) 51 (AP) 2008, the petitioners are serving as District Transport Officer (referred to as the 'dto' for short) under the Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh in the Group-B posts in the pay scale of Rs. 6500-10,500/- p. m. As per recommendation of the Fifth Pay Commission, as claimed by the petitioners, their pay scale should be revised/enhanced from Rs. 6500-10,500/- p. m. to Rs. 8000-13,500/- p. m. The said revised/enhanced pay scale having not been paid, they made several representations before the Govt. through proper channel. The pay scale of DTO is equal to other Group-B Officers, namely, District Information and Public Relation Officer (DIPRO), District Art and Culture Officer (DACO), District Tourism Officer, Child Development Programme Officer (CDPO), District Statistical Officer, Drug Inspectors, Food Inspectors, Asstt. Research Officer, Asstt. Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Compiler of Gazette Department, Urban Programme Officer, Geologists, District Library and Information Officer, Employment Officer, Labour Officer, Superintendent of Tax and Excise, Technical Officer of Health Department, Asstt. Unit Officer of Health Department, Asstt. Accounts Officer and District Supply Officer.

(3.) THE officers belonging to the above posts are also claiming enhanced/revised pay scale of Rs. 8000-13,500/- p. m. The cases of all those officers including the petitioners have been placed before the 'sahoo Committee', which was constituted by the Govt. vide order No. FIN/e-II/08/2005 dated 2nd July, 2005 to examine and finalize the pay anomalies of State Govt. employees. The aforesaid pay anomaly committee did not recommend the enhancement of pay scale of those officers including the petitioners. The State Cabinet, in its meeting held on 7th June, 2007 approved the Sahoo Committee report in principle along with the observations and recommendations of the Finance Department but surprisingly, the Cabinet decided to upgrade/enhance the pay scale of District Supply Officer (SDO) only excluding the other aforesaid officers to Rs. 8000-13,500/- p. m.