LAKHWINDER SINGH Vs. GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioners are working with the respondent-University as Daily Wagers, for the period varying from 6 to 11 years. Present petition has been filed for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to regularise the services of the petitioners and to grant them the pay scales and other allowances, which are being given to the regularly appointed employees of equal status, on the principle of equal pay for equal wo. &.

(2.) Notice of motion ,/as issued, in response to which written statement has been filed.

(3.) The stand taken by the respondent-University in its written statement is that the petitioners were appointed as Daily Wagers on order to meet the requirements and exigency of work as and when required by the University; that the University is in acute financial strain and, therefore, the posts cannot possibly be regularised for want of approval by the Finance Committee/Punjab Government. Regarding equal pay for equal work, the stand taken by the University is that the principle of equal pay for equal work would not apply in the present case as the petitioners were appointed as daily wagers and they are being paid at the rates fixed by the Deputy Commissioner of the area concerned; that equal pay cannot be given to the petitioners until and unless the appointments are made on regular basis by the University.