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2006 DIGILAW 3221 (RAJ)

State of Rajasthan v. Mahesh Bhan Gupta

2006-12-14

CHATRA RAM JAT, SHIV KUMAR SHARMA

body2006
Shiv Kumar Sharma, J.—Challenge in the instant appeal is to the order dt. August 31, 2006 of the learned Single Judge, whereby writ petition preferred by the respondents has been partly allowed thus- “In the result, the writ petition is partly allowed. The impugned notification dt. 18.08.1992 (Annexure-5) so far as its applicability with retrospective effect i.e. 25.01.1992 is concerned, is declared ultra vires Arts. 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. The respondents are directed to re-fix pay of the petitioners as per the main Rule 26-A RSR as it existed on 02.07.1992 on the post of Accounts Officer with a further direction to grant arrears of re-fixation and pensionary benefits etc. within a period of three months from today.” 2. Contenstal facts depict that the respondents entered in the services of the appellant on the post of Accountant between 1965 to 1969 and subsequently all of them had been promoted as Assistant Accounts Officer in the year 1981 and 1982. Thereafter promoted to the post of Accounts Officer in July, 1992 against the vacancies of the year 1992-93. On completion of 18 years of service as per notification dt. January 25, 1992, the respondents had been granted selection scale of Rs. 2000-3500 vide order dt. February 28, 1992. Thereafter vide notification dt. August 18, 1992 Note-4 below Rules 26A of RSR was amended w.e.f. 25.01.1992 and consequently the pay was fixed/re-fixed as per the amendment and recoveries were made from the salary of respondents. Therefore, the respondents preferred the writ petition. 3. Considering the submissions of both the parties learned Single Judge made following observations. “17. As discussed above, the main contentions of the petitioner on the issue of retrospective amendment and non-applicability of the selection grade circular dt. 25.01.1992 in view of Rule 26A R.S.R. are accepted and other contentions are rejected; whereas contentions of the State Government with regard to double benefit and amendment of formal nature are rejected. 18. The petitioners were granted selection scale on 28.02.1992 and further promoted on the post of Accounts Officer on 02.07.1992 and therefore, right of fixation existed and accrued in favour of the petitioners and further vested in them as per main Rule 26-A RSR and the same was also granted to some of them. The amendment made vide notification dt. 18. The petitioners were granted selection scale on 28.02.1992 and further promoted on the post of Accounts Officer on 02.07.1992 and therefore, right of fixation existed and accrued in favour of the petitioners and further vested in them as per main Rule 26-A RSR and the same was also granted to some of them. The amendment made vide notification dt. 18.08.1992 made effective from 25.01.1992 so far as its retrospective application part is concerned is ultra vires Arts. 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. Para 13 of the Executive instructions dt. 25.01.1992 for grant of selection scale is not applicable to the State service posts, as discussed above. Otherwise also, the said administrative instructions will not prevail over the main Rule 26-A RSR. So on both the counts benefit of fixation given at the time of grant of selection scale on 18 years’ service and on promotion to the Post of Accounts Officer was not liable to be withdrawn and further recovery in pursuance thereto is illegal. 4. Mr. Bharat Vyas, learned Additional Advocate General, canvassed that the selection grade, introduced by the order dt. January 25, 1992 was in lieu of promotion. Since the respondents had already availed the benefit of fixation of pay on promotion at the time of grant of selection grade, their rights were not jeopardised. The amendment introduced vide order dt. August 18, 1992 was necessary because of the fact that there was no provision in RSR which was leading to a lot of confusion. 5. Having heard the rival submissions and on scanning the material on record, we find that the learned Single Judge has set aside the impugned notification dt. August 18, 1992 only to the extent that it was made effective with retrospective effect and directed to refix the salary of respondents as it existed on July 2, 1992. We are of the view that by administrative instructions the selection scale granted on completion of 18 years of services and on promotion to the post of Accounts Officer, was not liable to be withdrawn. 6. For these reasons, we do not see any illegality in the impugned judgment of learned Single Judge. The special appeal being devoid of merit stands dismissed without any order as to costs. 6. For these reasons, we do not see any illegality in the impugned judgment of learned Single Judge. The special appeal being devoid of merit stands dismissed without any order as to costs. We however make it clear that the benefits shall only be contained to the respondents and this judgment shall not be treated as precedent. * * * * *