SUSHIL KUMAR MITTAL Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition has been filed for issue of writ to quash Annexure P-7 and to direct the respondents to grant benefit of senior scale of 3000-4500 and selection grade (3700-5300) after 8 and 18 years of service respectively on the basis of similar benefit given to the holders of equivalent categories of posts in Irrigation Department.

(2.) Petitioner joined service as Assistant Geologists in the Agricultural Department, Punjab on 24.10.1970, 21.6.1974 and 29.10.1976. Petitioners No. 1 1 and 2 were promoted as Geologists Hydrogeologists w.e.f. 1.1.1982 and 20.2.1988 respectively.

(3.) Service conditions of the employees working in the Agriculture Department (Class II) posts are governed by the Punjab Agricultural Service (Class II), Rules, 1974. The service is divided into four different cadres, namely, Engineering posts, Statistical Posts, Geological posts and Administrative posts. Posts in the Engineering cadre includes Assistant Agricultural Engineer which is equivalent to Assistant Geologist. The post of Assistant Geologist in Agricultural Department has also been treated as equivalent to Sub Divisional Engineer in the Irrigation Department. Likewise the post of Geologist has been treated equivalent to the post of Executive Engineer in the Irrigation Department and the post of Joint Director (Hydrogeology) has been treated equivalent to that of Superintending Engineer in the Irrigation Department.