HAKUMAT SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This judgment would dispose of CWP Nos. 1721, 1722 and 1723, all of 1998, as the common questions of law and fact are involved in the said petitions. Though the facts of all the three are at little variance but for the purpose of this judgment, the facts stated in CWP 1721 of 1998 are being referred to.

(2.) The petitioner passed matriculation examination from Punjab School Education Board in March, 1985 and it was in May 1988, he was appointed as Beldar in the pay scale of Rs. 300-430 in the Department of Irrigation, Punjab at Ranjit Sagar Dam, Shahpur Kandi, Tehsil Pathankot, Distt. Gurdaspur (in short "Ranjit Sagar Dam Project"). The petitioner joined on 25.5.1988. He was promoted as Junior Welder w.e.f. 1.6.1989 in the pay scale of Rs. 325-495 and thereafter was promoted as Welder in the pay scale of Rs. 950-1800 w.e.f. 1.3.1991. The petitioner was regularised as Beldar w.e.f. 3.3.1996. In the meanwhile, the petitioner passed B.A. examination (Three years course) from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in April, 1989. The petitioner also passed B.Ed. examination from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak in June, 1996 by virtue of one year's correspondence course extended by the University.

(3.) The petitioner was posted at Ranjit Sagar Dam Project when he was apprised of a circular letter issued by the Superintending Engineer, Administrative Circle, to all the S.Es. with copies to the offices of the Executive Engineers etc. vide which a list of qualified personnel having suitable qualifications of Trained Teachers was asked for, who are in fact working in the Divisions under various categories and are also willing to serve in the school established by Ranjit Sagar Dam Project. The copy of circular letter is at Annexure P6. The except of the same is reproduced here under:-