SOM DUTT Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner-Som Dutt has filed the present writ petition inter alia with a prayer to direct the respondents to grant pay scale of Rs.1200-2100 to the petitioner w.e.f. 24.10.1986 the date when he joined as Liquid Nitrogen Plant Operator in the Department of Animal Husbandry, Punjab) with all consequential benefits along with interest.

(2.) The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner was appointed as Liquid Nitrogen Plant Operator (hereinafter referred to as LNPO) on 26.09.1986 in the pay scale of Rs.400-660. In the year 1988, w.e.f. 01.01.1986, the pay scale of LNPO was revised to Rs.1200-2100, whereas, the petitioner was only granted pay scale of Rs.950-1800.

(3.) The pleaded case of the petitioner is that vide letter dated 17.05.1990, The Director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab had written to Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, Bathinda that Plant Operators who were in the scale of Rs.450-800, have been given revised pay scale of Rs.1200-2100 as per recommendations of Third Pay Commission. The petitioner then submitted a representation to the respondents with a request to grant him the pay scale of Rs.1200-2100 w.e.f. 24.10.1986. This recommendation was forwarded to The Director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab by The Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, Faridkot, seeking necessary clarification. In the year 1997, in a judgment dated 14.03.1997 in CWP-12120-1994, this Court had allowed the writ petition and directed the respondents to give to the petitioner (petitioner therein) higher grade pay scale of Rs.1200-2100 w.e.f. the date when it was given to his immediate junior. Thereafter, when inspite the said judgment, the said scale was not granted to the petitioner, the petitioner filed the present writ petition in the year 1999. It is further stated by learned counsel for the petitioner that during pendency of the writ petition, on 31.10.2002, the petitioner has retired from the services.