THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 17868 OF 2008 O R D E R: The 1s t petitioner is Kadapa Branch of the Scheduled Castes Rights Protection Society of A.P., and the 2nd petitioner is the A.P. Panchayat Raj (ZP) Employees Gang Mazdoors Union, Kadapa Branch. This writ petition is filed with a prayer to declare the action of the respondents, viz; the Deputy Executive Engineers of various places in Kadapa District and their corresponding Sub-Treasury Officers, in not paying the arrears of Dearness Allowance and Group Insurance to the Gang Mazdoors and Work Inspectors, belonging to Scheduled Caste, who worked for the period from 1994 to 1999, as illegal and arbitrary, and to direct the respondents to pay such arrears, as well as a sum of Rs.25,000/- for each candidate, as compensation to the petitioners society. Consequential benefits are also claimed. It is alleged that such non-payment of the arrears, amounts to harassment under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and learned Government Pleader for Finance and Planning. The relief claimed in this writ petition is, as regards the arrears of Dearness Allowance and Group Insurance to the Gang Mazdoors and Work Inspectors, for the period between 1994 and 1999. If any arrears were to have been paid to individual employees belonging to Scheduled Caste or other categories, it was for the said employees to work out their remedies. Different agencies are established to protect the interests of the employees or workmen. For instance, if the wages in accordance with law are not paid to an employee, remedy is provided for under the Payment of Wages Act. Similar reliefs are provided for under the Payment of Bonus Act, Minimum Wages Act, etc. These claims are individual in nature, and cannot be claimed by any association or organization. Further, in matters of this nature, caste has hardly any role to play. Another aspect of the matter is that the prayer in the writ petition is not for a direction for payment of the arrears of salary or compensation to the concerned employees, or if they are not alive, to their dependants. But a direction is sought for payment of the said amount to the Association itself. It is difficult to accede to such request. In case, the petitioners societies want to protect the interests of the persons belonging to any particular category, they can always extend their assistance, for initiation of proceedings before the concerned authorities, by the individual themselves. The claims for arrears of salary, are purely personal in nature, and they have to be made by the employees, or their dependants. Therefore, the writ petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. __________________ 19th August 2008 PAN