CWP(T) No. 4436/2008 (OA 1269/97) 18.5.2009 Present: Mr. Dushwant Dadhwal Advocate, for the petitioners. Mr. R. K. Bawa Advocate General with Mr. Vivek Thakur, Addl. Advocate General and Mr. J. S. Rana, Astt. Advocate General for the respondents. The State of Himachal Pradesh has issued letter dated 31.3.1995 (Annexure-A/12/1) whereby U.G.C. Grade and revised pay scale has been accorded to 20 Senior Assistant Librarians working in District/Public and Central State Library, Solan. According to the learned counsel for the petitioners all the petitioners were working on the said post of Senior Assistant Librarians in District/Public and Central State Library, Solan as on 31.3.1995. According to the learned counsel for the respondents, petitioners are not covered in the said 20 Senior Assistant Librarians with regard to whom the said letter was issued. Nothing has been brought on record to substantiate this contention. The respondents have taken a view that the petitioners are not entitled for the said scale for the reason that their recruitment is after 31.12.1972 and the relaxation with regard to the eligibility criteria has been accorded only for the purposes of recruitment and grant of State pay scale. Insofar as U.G.C. scale is concerned petitioners are to be governed by the terms and conditions laid down by the U.G.C. The stand taken by the respondents prima facie is contradictory and untenable in law. The decision of the Government as -2- contained in Annexure-A/12/1 does not carve out any distinction as is urged in the present proceedings. The terms of the letter unambiguously clarified that 20 Senior Assistant Librarians working in District/Public and Central State Library, Solan will be entitled to U.G.C. grade w.e.f. 1.4.1980 grade of Rs. 700-1600 and the revised pay scale from 1.1.1986 as per details mentioned in the said letter. For the aforesaid reasons the present petition needs to be allowed. Respondents are directed to immediately pay to the petitioners pay scales in terms of Annexure A-12. Payment shall be disbursed within a period of three months from today failing which petitioner shall be entitled to interest @ 9%. Petition is disposed of. (Sanjay Karol), Judge. May 18, 2009 (PK)