SURESH KUMAR Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners who are working as Press Daftries complain that the respondents have arbitrarily denied them the scale of Rs.400-600 with effect from February 1, 1981. They, consequently, pray for the issue of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to place them in the said scale. A few facts may be noticed.

(2.) The petitioners were initially appointed as Learner Binders in the Printing and Stationery Department of the State of Haryana. These posts were in the pay scale of Rs.70-95. Those amongst the petitioners who had joined service prior to April 1, 1979 were placed in this scale. However, with effect from April 1, 1979, the scale of the post of Learner Binder was raised to Rs.300-430. Consequently, those amongst the petitioners who had joined after 1.4.1979 were placed in the revised scale. The Learner Binders are eligible for promotion to the post of Press Daftri. This post initially carried the scale of Rs.80-120. However, this scale was revised and raised to Rs.350-500 with effect from April 1, 1979. Resultantly, all the petitioners on their promotion as Press Daftries were placed in the scale of Rs.350-500.

(3.) There is another cadre of Office Daftries which is a part of the ministerial establishment. The post of Office Daftri initially carried the scale of Rs.75-105. It was further revised and raised to Rs.350-500 with effect from April 1, 1979. With effect from February 1, 1981, the pay scale was raised to Rs.400- 600. The precise complaint of the petitioners is that even though Office Daftries were initially in a lower scale of pay viz. Rs.75-105 while the petitioners were in the scale of Rs.80-120. They have been placed in the scale of Rs.400-600 while this scale has not been given to the Press Daftries like the petitioners. They, consequently, pray that a writ of mandamus be issued directing the respondents to grant them the scale of Rs.400-600 with effect from February 1, 1981 and to correspondingly give them the benefit of the revised scale with effect from January 1, 1986.