RAVINDER PAUL MALHI AND ORS. Vs. PUNJAB WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The two petitioners in these two petitions seek quashing of the orders dated 21.07.2014 (Annexure P -11), 21.07.2014 (Annexure P -12), 28.08.2014 (Annexure P -13) and 22.10.2014 (Annexure P -14), passed by the respondents, vide which their pay scales and dates of annual increments have been re -fixed to their disadvantage. They have also challenged the seniority list, Annexure P -10, issued on 12.03.2014. Though these are two separate petitions, however the orders impugned in each petition are the same and have been annexed in the same sequence in each petition, i.e. Annexures P -10 to P -14.

(2.) The background of the matter is that the petitioner initially joined as a Clerk with the predecessor of the respondent Corporation, i.e. with the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation Limited (hereinafter to be referred to as the Corporation), on 05.12.1978. His services were first regularised vide order Annexure P -1, dated 16.07.1981 with immediate effect and thereafter, the date of regularisation was changed to 20.01.1979, vide order dated 20.09.1991 (Annexure P -2).

(3.) On 07.02.1992, vide letter Annexure P -5, the respondent issued a tentative seniority list of Clerks, as on 30.09.1991, with the petitioner being assigned seniority at Sr. No. 115, taking his date of regularisation as the date of entry into service, i.e. 20.01.1979. In the same seniority list, one Darshana Kumari Sharma is stated, in the petition, to be shown at Sr. No. 13, assigning her seniority from the date of her regular appointment, i.e. 06.01.1978. Though the seniority position of the said Darshana Kumar is not reflected in the abridged copy of the seniority list annexed as Annexure P -5 with this petition, however, it is borne out from the copy of the said letter dated 07.02.1992, as has been annexed, also as Annexure P -5, with the connected CWP No. 18085 of 2014.