MANINDRA KUMAR SINHA Vs. MINERAL AREA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN this writ application the petitioner has prayed for quashing the order dated 8.3.97 as contained in annexure 17 to the writ application issued by respondent no.3, the Secretary Mineral Area Development Authority, Dhanbad whereby the petitioner has been reverted to class IV post after serving for more than 17 years on class III post as typist -cum -clerk and for further direction to confirm the service of the petitioner as typist -cum -clerk as several junior persons have been given promotion from the post of disinfector (class IV post) to class III post.

(2.) PETITIONER 'scase is that he was appointed in 1981 as Disinfector (Sodhak at Jharia Mines at Dhanbad after following all the procedures of appointment. It is stated that there was enough vacancy of typist -cum -clerk at Jharia Mines Board and, therefore, the petitioner being qualified in all respects for working as typist -cum -clerk, was authorised/directed by the respondents to render his services on the post of typist -cum -clerk in terms of the office order dated 16.3.81. It is stated that since 1981 the petitioner started working as typist -cum -clerk and, therefore, he made representation on 28.1.83 before the authorities to pay him salary of the post of Assistant. It is stated that in - spite of several representations the petitioner was not paid salary at par with typist -cum -clerk. However, after Jahanabad Nagar Palika Kardatee Sangrah Samiti Versus State Of Bihar rendering services as such for 17 years, the respondents issued the impugned order reverting him to the post of Disinfector (class IV).

(3.) ADMITTEDLY the petitioner was appointed in class IV post in 1981 but at the same time he was allowed to work in class III post and since then he has been working as such. It has not been disputed by the respondents that the petitioner did not possess the requisite qualification of the post of typist -cum -clerk. In 1983 the petitioner filed representation for regularising him in class III post and for payment of salary at par with the employees of that post. Inspite of repeated representation the respondents did not take any decision. In the year, 1990 the petitioner, therefore, made rep resentation that if he was treated to have been holding class IV post, then he should be granted cycle allowance and other benefits payable to class IV employee. In reply to the request, the respondents issued letter dated 26.6.90 informing that the petitioner is not entitled to cycle allowance for the reason that he has been working as typist -cum -clerk. A copy of the said letter has been annexed as annexure 4. It further appears by office order dated 1.8.90, the petitioner was posted as typist -cum -clerk in the law department of the respondent - Authority. In 1991 by office order dated 20.2.91 the petitioner was again transferred and posted as typist clerk in Building Division for rendering services of typist -cum -clerk. All the office orders have been annexed as annexures 5, 6. and 7. The petitioner has also annexed copy of the certificate dated 4.1.83 showing that he passed Hindi Noting and Drafting examination conducted by the respondents. In para 15 of the writ petition it is categorically stated that one Arun Kumar Keshri who was also appointed as Disinfector, was also allowed to work as class III employee and subsequently he was regularised and was given regular pay scale of the post of typist -cum -clerk on 20.11.83. This fact has not been denied by the respondents, rather, it is stated that the petitioner was never given assurance for promotion or regularisation in the post of typist -cum -clerk.