PARBHAT SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This judgment will dispose of C.W.P. Nos. 1988 and 4371 of 1981 as the question of law and facts involved therein are common.

(2.) In these writ petitions, the petitioners were working as Surveyors at the relevant time have prayed for quashing the order dated 14.8.1981 (Annexure P.3) by which the private respondents who were working as Agricultural Sub Inspectors at the relevant time were promoted as Sectional Officers in the scale of Rs. 700-1200. The petitioners have further prayed for a direction to the respondents to consider their claim and the claim of other members of the cadre of Surveyors with effect from the date on which Annexure P.3 was issued by the official respondents.

(3.) Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the petitioners who were working as Surveyors in the office of the Soil Conservation Department, Punjab, were not having any channel of promotion. Accordingly, a proposal was submitted by the Chief Conservator to Government of Punjab, and pursuant to that proposal, the Government of Punjab vide order dated 7.9.1977 (Annexure P.1) directed that Surveyors who had put in more than 10 years' service in the Soil Conservation Department may be considered for promotion to the post of Sectional Officer in relaxation of the rules. After the issue of the aforesaid order, 37 Surveyors were promoted to the post of Sectional Officers.