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Allahabad High Court · body

2010 DIGILAW 790 (ALL)

Manju Shukla v. State of U. P. and Others

2010-03-09

RAJIV SHARMA

body2010
Hon’ble Rajiv Sharma, J.—Heard Mr. Y.S. Lohit, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Mr. N.C. Mehrotra, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel.2. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that in the year 1977, the petitioner was initially appointed on the post of Studio Assistant, which is included in the post of Staff Instructor for Architectural Assistantship by the Board of Technical Education. The qualification prescribed for the post of Studio Assistant and Instructor was similar. Since the date of initial appointment, the petitioner has been working in Architectural Engineering Department. Subsequently, on 31.12.1987, the persons posted as Instructors holding Diploma in engineering of the pay scale of Rs.550-940 were ordered to be re-designated as Assistant Lecturer.3. Uttar Pradesh Technical Education Department Non-Gazetted Technical Service Rules, 1988 were notified on 19.7.1988. In the Rules, the pay scale attached to the Studio Assitant is Rs.550-940. On 5.10.1989, the Secretary, Technical Education sent a letter to the Principal of Government Girls Polytechnic, Lucknow which reveals that the Diploma in Architecture has been treated as equivalent in any other branch of Engineering. Thereafter, on 23.5.1992, the pay scale of Instructors, which were re-designated as Assistant Lecturers, i.e. Rs.1400-2300 was modified as Rs.1640-2900. When the said pay scale has not been provided to the petitioner, she preferred representations on 14.7.1997 and 12.11.1997. On 21.5.1998, High Power Committee gave its specific finding that the nature of work of the post of Studio Assistant is similar to that of Assistant Lecturers. On 24.6.1998, the Director, Technical Education sent a letter to the Government mentioning that the pay scale and designation of the Assistnt Lecturer was recommended for the Studio Assistant also. Despite the recommendations made by the High Power Committee and Director, the petitioner has not been provided the pay scale. Feeling aggrieved, she preferred a claim petition. The said claim petition was decided by means of the judgment and order dated 24.3.2003. The operative portion of the judgment is as under:“In view of the aforementioned discussion, the opposite parties are directed to consider petitioner’s claim within three months in the light of the Expert Committee Report (Annexure A9) in respect of pay scale and promotional avenues to the post of Studio Assistant from the date of the receipt of the copy of this judgment and pass suitable orders accordingly. In the circumstances of the case, no order is passed as to costs.”4. In the circumstances of the case, no order is passed as to costs.”4. The order passed by the Tribunal has not been challenged by the State, therefore, it attains finality. In compliance of the judgment dated 24.3.2002, the case of the petitioner was considered and rejected by the order dated 8.7.2003, contained in Annexure No.1 to the writ petition. Being aggrieved, the instant writ petition has been filed. A perusal of the impugned order would show that the petitioner’s representation has not been considered in light of the order passed by the Tribunal. Therefore, it is liable to be quashed.5. During pendency of the instant writ petition, the petitioner, on attaining the age of superannuation, retired from service on 30.6.2005 and as such, an application for amending the writ petition has been filed, which was allowed. Necessary amendments were also incorporated.6. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed and the impugned order dated 8.7.2003, contained in Annexure No.1 to the writ petition, is hereby quashed.7. While entertaining the writ petition, this Court vide order dated 24.9.2003, an interim measure, provided that the opposite parties shall pay the pay scale which is payable to the Assistant Lecturer to the petitioner forthwith. The said order was assailed by the State Government in Special Appeal and the Division Bench, while allowing the Special Appeal No.458 of 2003, set aside the order passed by the learned Single Judge.8. As the writ petition has been finally allowed, it is provided that it will be open for the opposite parties to re-consider the case of the petitioner, keeping in view the recommendations of the High Power Committee and the order passed by the tribunal dated 24.3.2002. In case, the opposite parties came to the conclusion that the petitioner is entitled for payment of salary on the post in question, the difference of salary be paid. It is further clarified that the post-retiral dues shall also be paid after calculation. Let this exercise be completed within a maximum period of three months from the date of presentation of a certified copy of this order.(Petition allowed)_