IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.M.No.15044 of 2007 and C.W.P. No.6612 of 1995 Date of Decision:- 05.02.2008 Sutantar Jot Singh ....Petitioner(s) through Mr.Harinder Sharma, Advocate vs. State of Punjab and another ....Respondent(s) through Mr.M.C.Berry, Sr.DAG, Punjab *** CORAM:-HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. *** 1) Whether Reporters of the 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) With the consent of learned counsel for the parties, the main case is taken up on board for final disposal. C.M.stands disposed of. This civil writ petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking a writ in the nature of Mandamus to direct the respondents to count the ad- hoc service rendered by him immediate prior to his appointment on regular basis towards the grant of senior scale/selection grade. The petitioner was appointed as Lecturer on ad-hoc basis on 13.8.1979. He continued to work as such uninterruptedly in different Government colleges till he was appointed on the recommendations of PPSC on 9.11.1987. It is stated that even while appointing him on ad-hoc basis, the approval of the Punjab Public Service Commission was sought C.M.No.15044 of 2007 and -2- C.W.P. No.6612 of 1995 and granted. The petitioner's grievance is that since his appointment on ad- hoc basis was through an open competition and with the approval of the PPSC followed by his regular appointment on the recommendations of the Commission, the service rendered by him on ad-hoc basis has to be taken into account towards the total service required for the purpose of grant of senior scale/selection grade, as recommended by the University Grants Commission. In order to make out a case of hostile discrimination, the petitioner now places reliance upon an order dated 5.12.2006 passed by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Punjab whereby the ad- hoc service rendered by Smt.Indu Bala Singh, Lecturer (English), Government College, Mohali has been ordered to be taken into account to grant her the senior scale/selection grade as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission. Apparently, there appears to be no distinction between the case of the petitioner and that of Smt.Indu Bala Singh. However, without commenting upon the merits of the controversy, I deem it appropriate to dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the respondents to consider the petitioner's claim on the analogy followed in the case of Smt.Indu Bala Singh, referred to above, and thereafter pass an appropriate reasoned order in accordance with law. The needful shall be done within a period of four months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. February 05, 2008 ( SURYA KANT ) poonam JUDGE