HARMAIL SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The three petitioners are working as Inquiry Officers in Punjab Roadways. They claim parity of treatment in the matter of scale of pay with the Assistant Divisional Managers working in the Department. Their representations having not borne any fruitful results, the petitioners have approached this Court through the present writ petition.

(2.) In the year 1979, Divisional Offices were created in the Transport Department. The posts 01 Assistant Divisional Managers as well as Inquiry Officers were created. These posts were placed in the scale of Rs. 825-1580. After the receipt of the recommendations of the Pay Commission, the State Govt, vide notification dated February 15,1990 revised the pay scale of Assistant Divisional Managers from Rs. 825-1580 to 2200-4000. Similar orders were passed in case of various officers in different departments. For those in the pay scale of Rs. 825-1580 the revised pay scale of Rs. 2200-4000 was sanctioned. So far as the post of Inquiry Officers held by the petitioners are concerned, they have been placed in the scale of Rs. 2000-3500. The petitioners claim that they are entitled to the grant of scale of Rs. 2200-4000 and that the action of the respondent is wholly arbitrary and unfair.

(3.) In the written statement filed on behalf of the respondents, it has been averred that the mode of recruitment for the posts of Inquiry Officers and Assistant District Managers is different. An effort has been made to show that even the qualification and experience for recruitment for direct appointment or transfer are different. On this premises, the impugned action is sought to be justified.