INDERJIT REKHI Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A State of Punjab has set up/established different Market Committees within the State of Punjab for the purposes of regulating the purchase, sale, storage and processing of agricultural produce and the said Committees have been made subject to the supervision by the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board, respondent No. 2 (hereinafter referred to as the Board), as per the provisions of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1961.

(2.) Petitioner was appointed as a Clerk with the Market Committee, Mansa, then in District Bhatinda, in the year, 1977. The case of the petitioner, is that initially the Clerks in the Market Committees were in a higher grade of pay than the Auction Recorders. At one point of time, while making revision in the pay scales w.e.f. 1.1.1978, Auction Recorders were given higher grade of Rs. 450 -800 and the Clerks were placed in the grade of Rs. 400 -600, which created an anomaly. On reconsideration of the matter, the Board issued a circular No. 221 under endorsement No. Amla -3/22375 -631 dated 11.11.1983, whereby it was decided that the Clerks who had joined service before 3.7.1980, shall be kept at par with the Auction Recorders and shall be granted the revised pay scale of Rs. 450 -800 equal to the Auction Recorders. As per the policy laid down by the State of Punjab, senior scale of Rs. 510 -800 was granted to 50% of the Clerks w.e.f 1.1.1978. This was done vide circular No. 37 issued by the Board under endorsement No. Amla 42669 -2799 dated 16.2.1987. As per the said circular, the pay scale of the Auction Recorders of the Market Committee was also enhanced from Rs. 450 -800 to Rs. 5 10 -800 w.e.f. 1.1.1978 so that the pay scale of the Senior Clerks and that of the Auction Recorders remained equal. Senior Clerks and Auction Recorders of the Market Committee were to enjoy the same scale of pay and common seniority and the senior, among them, was entitled , to be promoted to the post of Mandi Supervisor cum Fee Collector. Copy of this circular has been attached as Annexure P -4. Promotions to the posts of Mandi Supervisors cum Fee Collectors were being made as per the aforesaid circular, Annexure P -4.

(3.) To ensure entries in Heap Register or Boli Bahis;