IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. C.W.P. No. 9527 of 2009. [O&M] Date of Decision: 31st March, 2010. Kulwant Singh Petitioner through Mr. G.S.Sathi, Advocate Versus State of Punjab & Ors. Respondents through Mr. B.S.Chahal, DAG, Punjab. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT. 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? SURYA KANT, J. [ORAL] This order shall dispose of CWP Nos. 9527 and 20494 of 2009 as common questions of law and facts are involved in both these cases. The petitioner in Civil Writ Petition No. 9527 of 2009 is aggrieved at the order dated 15.10.2007 [Annexure P-1/a] vide which his pay has been re-fixed by withdrawing the benefit of one increment granted to him on exercise of option for the new pay-scales. The petitioner in CWP No. 20494 of 2009 challenges the order dated 14.8.2008 [Annexure P-5] vide which his pay has been re-fixed after withdrawal of the benefit of proficiency step-up. The petitioners are also aggrieved at the consequential recovery orders and claim that the said benefits have been wrongly withdrawn. So far as the recovery is concerned, learned counsel for the parties are ad-idem that the controversy is squarely answered in favour of the petitioners by a Full Bench decision of this Court in Budh Ram v State of Haryana & Ors. 2009[3] PLR, 511. Consequently, the recovery order is hereby quashed. Recovery, if any, effected from the petitioners shall be refunded within a period of four months from the date a certified copy of this order is received. Adverting to the contention that the petitioners were rightly granted the benefit of one increment, in my considered view, the claim can not be decided without ascertaining the correctness of the facts from the office records. Such an exercise can be effectively undertaken by a Departmental Committee as well. Accordingly, it is directed that let there be a Departmental Committee headed by the Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab, with one representative from the Finance Department, Government of Punjab to consider and dispose of the claim of the petitioners by passing a speaking order as expeditiously as possible and preferably within a period of four months from the date a certified copy of this order is received. Suffice it to say that in case the Committee accepts the petitioners' claim, the benefit earlier granted to them shall be restored and consequential arrears and/or revised retiral benefits shall be granted to him. However, till the Committee takes an appropriate decision, the retiral benefits, if already not released, be released as per the re-fixed pay but without prejudice to the claim of the petitioner to be decided by the Committee. Disposed of. Dasti. March 31, 2010. ( SURYA KANT ) dinesh JUDGE