BALWINDER SINGH SODHI Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners have approached this Court second time; for different relief; though it is a part of the same chain of events which started with the filing of earlier writ petition bearing CWP No.7807 of 1999. The petitioners, who are 12 in number, are the employees of the Municipal Committee, Makhu. 11 of them were appointed as Clerks and one was appointed as Driver way back in the year 1993-94. However, their appointment, were treated as on daily-wage basis and they were granted daily wages. On the first occasion when the petitioners had earlier filed CWP No.7807 of 1999, their plea was that they be granted salary in the regular pay scale at the minimum of the pay scales plus all allowances and arrears of salary as such for the period of 3 years prior to the filing of the writ petition. This writ petition was allowed by this Court vide judgment dated 14.02.2000. As a result, all these petitioners were put in minimum of the regular pay scales and they are getting salaries in their pay scales.

(2.) However, the respondents continued to treat the petitioners on daily-wage basis. Some time in the year 2001, Municipal Committee passed a resolution, as per which Scheme for regularization of daily-wage employees was issued. We will refer to the details of this Scheme at the appropriate stage.

(3.) To complete the narration of facts, we point out that under this Scheme, many other employees working with the Municipal Committee were regularized and orders were passed in this effect. However, this benefit was not accorded to the petitioners. It is for this reason, petitioners have filed the instant petition in the year 2005 with the following reliefs:-