(1.) The petitioners, by way of present petition, have prayed for the following substantive reliefs:
(2.) The petitioners have averred in the petition that they are working as Laboratory Attendants with the respondents and are presently working at Government High Schools/Government Senior Secondary Schools/Government Colleges in the respondent Department. The post of Laboratory Attendant was re-designated as Senior Laboratory Attendant when the pay scales of Laboratory Attendants were revised on the Punjab pattern, and they were given the scale of Rs.950.001800 w.e.f. 1/1/1986. Further, the scale was revised to Rs.3120.005160 w.e.f. 1/1/1996 and, at present, they are getting the salary in the said pay scale.
(3.) Vide memo dtd. 1/1/1990, respondent No.2 wrote a letter to all the Principals of Government Colleges seeking clarification regarding duties and responsibilities of Laboratory Staff in the Colleges. It has been mentioned in the said letter that a confusion has been created in some Colleges in respect of the responsibilities and duties as per the duty norms and it is clarified in the said letter that there is no change in the nature of duties as already defined in spite of change in classification of certain categories of employees. Vide this letter, suggestions were also sought for modification, if any. Communication dtd. 30/10/1964, whereby the norms were formulated is also annexed with this letter. As per the norms dtd. 30/10/1964, the duties of Junior Lecturer Assistant and Laboratory Attendant are as under: