HARNAM SINGH Vs. HARYANA URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are working as Accounts in the Haryana Urban Development Authority (hereinafter referred to as the Authority). They complain that the action of the respondent-authority in not giving them the scale of Rs.1640- 2900 plus special pay till April 30, 1990 and that of Rs.2000- 3200 with effect from May 1, 1990 as has been given to other members of the cadre, suffers from the vice of discrimination. Is it so A few facts may be noticed.

(2.) In July, 1978, certain posts of Accounts Assistants in the pay scale of Rs.225-500 were advertised by the Authority. The candidates were required to possess the qualification of B.Com. in the First or Second Division with advance accountancy or auditing as an optional subject. It was also prescribed that the candidates should have two year's experience in a large commercial establishment. The petitioners competed. They were selected and appointed. With effect from April 1, 1979, the pay scale of the post of Accounts Assistant was revised and raised to Rs.525-1050. The petitioners were granted this pay scale.

(3.) The next higher post in the Accounts wing of the respondent- authority was that of Accountant. Till the year 1986, all posts of Accountants were filled up by appointment of persons who had qualified the Subordinate Accounts Service examination conducted by the Finance Department. However, on May 12, 1986, the respondent-authority found that an avenue of promotion should be provided to the Accounts Assistants. Accordingly, it decided that 6 posts of Section Officers which were hithertofore filled up by drawing persons from the Finance Department be redesignated as Accountants and filled by promotion from the cadre of Accounts Assistants. The post of Section Officer was in the pay scale of Rs.700-1200. The same scale was sanctioned for the redesignated post of Accountant. By an order of the same date, 5 of the petitioners were promoted as Accountants. In respect of the sixth petitioner, a separate order was passed.