PUNJAB STATE COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS Vs. SATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition filed under Articles 226 of the Constitution prays for partially quashing order dated 9.12.1997 (Annexure P-3) to the extent it imposes an embargo on payment of arrears of pay to the affected employees after the removal of anomalies which have been removed w.e.f. 1.1.1986 whereas arrears have been permitted w.e.f. 1.4.1996.

(2.) Brief facts of the case necessary for the disposal of the controversy raised in this petition are that, on the recommendations of the 3rd Pay Commission, the Punjab Government revised the pay scales of its employees on 21.5.1989. The revision was made effective from 1.1.1986. Respondent No. 3 the Punjab State Cooperative Agricultural Development Bank Ltd. (for brevity "respondent bank") adopted resolution No. 37 dated 6.7.1989, revising the pay scale of its employees, on the pattern of Punjab Government and obtain the approval of the Registrar. It is appropriate to mention here that the respondent bank is a Cooperative Society and all its resolutions are liable to be approved by the Registrar. Accordingly, on 6.11.1989 an order of revision of pay scale was issued.

(3.) On 15.6.1990 the Punjab Government issued a notification and removed certain anomalies in the pay scales, which were revised on 21.5.1989, w.e.f. 1.1.1986. As a consequence, Punjab Government amended and revised the master pay scale by a notification issued on 24.12.1992, which also resulted into introduction of the amended master pay scale, by the respondent bank, on 24.3.1996. Earlier master scale of Rs. 750-20-950-25-1200-30-1560-40-2000-50-2400-60-2700-75-3000-100-4000-125-5000 -150-5900 was amended and the new master scale was introduced, which is as under :-