INDRAJ SINGH Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this writ petition, the petitioners have challenged the order dated 19th/21st February 1997 (copy annexure P-1) whereby the appeal of Smt. Kamal Mohni, respondent No. 3, herein, has been accepted by respondent No. 1 and she has been ordered to be assigned seniority with effect from 1st February, 1973 amongst the Assistants.

(2.) Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the petitioners joined the Forest Department as Clerks during the period 1964 to 1968 on being regularly selected by the Haryana Subordinate Services Selection Board. They were confirmed as Clerks during the period April, 1969 to November, 1971. Petitioners No. 6 and 8 were promoted as Assistants in the year 1971; petitioners Nos. 1 to 4 were promoted as Assistants in the year 1973; petitioner No. 5 in the year 1974; petitioner No. 9 in the year 1976 and the petitioner No. 7 in the year 1979. Petitioners Nos. 1, 6 and 8 were confirmed as Assistants in the year 1979; petitioners Nos. 2 to 5 were confirmed as Assistants in the year 1981; petitioner No. 9 in the year 1987 and the petitioner No. 7 in the year 1988. Petitioners Nos. 1 to 5 were promoted as Head Assistants/Deputy Superintendents in the year 1981; petitioners Nos. 6, 7 and 8 in the year 1982 and petitioner No. 9 in the year 1984. Petitioners Nos. 1 and 2 were confirmed as Head Assistants/Deputy Superintendents in September, 1988 and the petitioners Nos. 3 to 9 were confirmed as Head Assistants/Deputy Superintendents in the year 1996.

(3.) Respondent No. 3 joined the Forest Department as a steno-typist on 19th July, 1972. She was promoted as Stenographer with effect from 1st February, 1973. It may be noted here that the pay scale of the Stenographers is equivalent to that of the Assistants. She was confirmed as a Stenographer on 1st November, 1982. She was further promoted as Head Assistant on 1st August, 1982 and was confirmed on that post on 9th January 1996.