IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. C.W.P. No. 3604 of 2009. [O&M] Date of Decision: 31st March, 2010. Prem Singh Petitioner through Mr. R.S.Manhas, 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. 3604,11659,13893, 16996 of 2009 and 3216 of 2010 as common issues are involved in these cases. The pay of all the petitioners has been re-fixed in these cases and consequential recovery orders have been passed against them. Aggrieved, they have approached this Court. While in CWP No. 3604 of 2009, the benefit of special increments earlier granted for the 'military service' has been withdrawn, in other writ petitions the benefit of stepping-up of their pay has been withdrawn and as a result thereto, the pay has been re-fixed and recovery is sought to be effected from the petitioners. 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 orders are 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 contentions on merits that the petitioners were rightly granted the benefit of proficiency step-up, in my considered view, such like claims can not be decided without ascertainment of the correct facts from the record. 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 an officer not below the rank of the Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary of the Irrigation Department; Chief Engineer and the Administrative Officer of the Irrigation Department, Punjab, who shall consider the individual claims of the petitioners and dispose of the same by passing speaking orders 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 benefits earlier granted to them shall be restored and consequential arrears and/or revised retiral benefits shall also be granted to them. However, till the Committee takes an appropriate decision, the retiral benefits shall be released and/or continue to be drawn, as per the revised pay but without prejudice to the claim of the petitioners to be decided by the Committee. Disposed of. Dasti. March 31, 2010. ( SURYA KANT ) dinesh JUDGE