SURENDER SINGH Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this judgment, we are disposing of 41 writ petitions, bearing CWP Nos. 18402 and 18788 of 1996, 890, 1293, 1553, 1710, 2081, 2170, 2393, 2484, 2789, 2840, 3393, 3394, 3404, 3548, 3779, 3977, 4904, 4986, 5487, 5491, 5555, 6690, 6864, 7255, 7727, 7962, 8937, 10246, 10361, 10445, 10586, 10822, 10933, 11066, 11070, 11866, 12127, 12410 and 12419 of 1997 as the facts and the point of law involved in all these cases are similar. For the purpose of this judgment, the facts of CWP No. 7255 of 1997 have been taken.

(2.) The Government of Haryana vide circular dated 14.5.1991 (copy annexure P1) decided to grant one additional increment at 10th and another at 20th year in the time scale as applicable from 1st January, 1986 to all Group 'C' and 'D' employees in addition to regular increment. The aforesaid scheme was modified vide circular dated 7th August, 1992 (copy annexure P-2). By this circular, the Government of Haryana decided that the benefit of additional increment would be available to Group 'C' and 'D' employees on completion of 8 and 18 years of 'regular satisfactory service' in a particular group and the first additional increment was to be granted after 8 years and the second after 18 years of service.

(3.) The scheme with regard to grant of additional increment after 8 and 18 years of service contained in the circular, dated 7th August, 1992 was, however, replaced by the Government of Haryana vide Circular dated 8th Feburary, 1994 (Annexure P.3). In terms of the said instructions, the State Government decided to grant time bound higher standard pay scale to the Haryana Government employees of Group 'C' and 'D' category in replacement of the earlier scheme of additional increment of 8 and 18 years. The instructions contained in the circular dated 8th Feburary, 1994 reads as under :