ROOP LAL Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, who are working as Sweepers and Mate with Municipal Council, Ferozepur, have approached this court for a direction to the respondents to grant benefits equal to their counter parts working in the office and also extend them the benefit of judgment of Hon'ble the Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 8434 of 1997 Municipal Employees Union (Regd.) Sirhind and others vs State of Punjab and others, decided on 15.3.2000.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that Punjab Government vide notification dated 7.4.1980 notified that all Saturdays of every month instead of second and last Saturdays of each month shall be observed as holidays in the Government offices. As the petitioners are also working in Local Bodies, they are also entitled to holiday on Saturdays. But the employees, who are similarly situated and working in the offices are to work for five days in a week, whereas the petitioners who are working in the field, are made to work for six days in a week. For claiming the relief, learned counsel for the petitioners placed reliance upon judgment of this court in CWP No. 1539 of 1987 Niranjan Dass and others vs The State of Punjab and another decided on 29.3.2006.

(3.) On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents submitted that the petitioners are governed by the Punjab Municipal Safai Karamchari Service Rules, 1984 (for short, 'the Rules'). Rule 17 thereof prescribes the holidays to which each member of the service is entitled to. It is clearly mentioned therein that the employees governed by the aforesaid Rules are entitled to one paid holiday in a week and three national holidays i.e. January 26, August 15 and October 2, and four other holidays at the option of the members of the service on any of the festivals specified in Appendix-C.