HAQIQAT SINGH Vs. THE PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, most of whom are working as Junior Library Assistants, in the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, pray for the issue of a writ of mandamus directing the authorities to grant them the pay scale of Rs. 700-1600 w.e.f. April 1, 1980 and Rs. 2200-4000 w.e.f. January 1, 1986. Are they entitled to this relief A few facts may be noticed.

(2.) Petitioner No. 1 is working as a Library Assistant. The other petitioners (except petitioner No. 6 who retired in 1993) are working as Junior Library Assistants. They entered the service of the University before December 31, 1972. The petitioners allege that their duties are similar to those being performed by the Librarians in various Government Colleges in the State of Punjab. The petitioners were granted the pay scales applicable to the College Librarians on different occasions. Invoking the principle of 'Equal pay for Equal work', the petitioners submit that the action of the respondent- University in not granting them the scale of Rs. 700-1600 w.e.f. April 1, 1980 and the scale of Rs. 2200-4000 w.e.f. January 1, 1986 as these have been granted to the College Librarians, is discriminatory and violative of Articles 14, 16 and 39(d) of the Constitution.

(3.) The respondent-University contests the claim made by the petitioners. It points out that the qualification for the post of Junior Library Assistant is Matriculation with a Certificate in Library Science. The pay scale of the petitioners at the time of their employment was Rs. 110-200. Later on, it was revised and raised to Rs. 125-300 which had been granted to the non- professional-semi-professional Librarians in the Education Department of the State Government. This pay scale was further revised and raised to Rs. 700-1200. With effect from January 1, 1986, this pay scale was revised to Rs. 1640-2925. The petitioners were placed in this scale w.e.f. that date.