HjaH^QURTOFCHHATnSGARH AT BILASPUR Writ Petition (S) No. 2016 of2007 Petitioners <• Shashifeant Dubey, Aged about 42 ycars, S/o Shri N. P. Dubey, Presenfty working as Peon in fhe office of Block Education OflScer, Department of Tribal, Maueadragarh, Distt. Korea, Chhattisgarh. Jawahar Lal, Aged about 44 years, S/o Shri Tutua Raru, Presentty worldag as Peon in Middk &;hool (Triba^, Barbaspur, Distt. Korea, C.G. Rain Sai Rajwade, Aged about 40 years, S/o Shri Nohar Sai, Pcescntfy working as Chowkidar in Govt. Boys Hostel fTrOaa^, Kachlioud, Distfc Korea, Chhattisgarh, C.G. Bhajju Rain, Aged about 34 ycars, S/o Shri Raiabhrosh, Presentfy working as Cook in Govfc Balak Ashraca fTriba^, Tarabahra, Distt. Korea, Ghhattisgarh. Shw Kumar Rathore, Aged about 43 years, S/o Shri Dhanwat, Presentty working as Pteon ia Boys Ashram fTriba^, Khongapani, Block Manendragarh., Distt. Korea, C.G. Hari Prasad, Aged about 38 years, S/o Shri Suuder Ram, Presenfty workitig as Peon in Post Matric Hostel fTribal), ManendTagarh, Departmeat of Tribal, Distt. Korea, Chhattisgarh. LaUu Singh, Aged about 44 years, S/o Shri Baijaath Siagh, Presently working as Chowkidar in Block Education OfBce, Maruidragarh, Distfc Korea, Cbhatisgarh. '^3^^^- 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Balram Singh, Aged about 42 years, S/o Shri Narcndra Siagh, Presentiy working as Peon in Govt. Balak Ashrain (Tribat, Banji, Tehsil - ManendrE^arh, Distt. Korea, C.G. Raia Narayan Sahu, Aged about 38 yeara, S/o Shri Vaaspati Sahu, Presenfly working as Peon in Gtovt. Boys Hostel (Tribal), Kelhari, Distt. Korea, C.G-. Ram Kumar Siugh, Aged about 45 yeara, S/o Shri Heera Singh, Presenfty working as Peon in Govt. Post Matric Hostel (Tribal), Maneadiagarh, Distfc Korea, C.G, Ram. Kishun, Aged about 39 years, S/o Shri Siyambar, Presenfly working as Peon ia Govt. Post Matric Hostel fTribal), Manendragarh, Diatt. Korea, C.G. Smt. Bechni Bai, Aged about 38 years, S/o Laxinau Dias, Presentty workmg as Pfcon in Govt. Kamla Nehru Girls Hostel fTriba^, Maaendragarh, Distfc Korea, r] n V-/.V3'* Dal Pratap, Aged about 38 years, S/o Shri Budh Ram Singh, Presentfy workuag as Cook in Govt. High Secondaiy School fTribal), Manendragarh, Distt. Korea, C.G. Raja Babu, Agai about 44 ycars, S/o Shri Jugat Kishore, Preseaffy working as Pcon in Qovt Girls High School fTriba^, Baikunthpur, Distt Korea, C.G. Shobhnath, Aged about 40 ycars, S/o Shri Genda Ram, Presentfy workmg as Peon in Govt. Boys Playii^ Campus (Tribal),MancDdragarh,Distt.Korea, C.G. <;s:y^^S/FS^S^;^^^^Sae&^S ^ 16. 17. Versus Respondcnts 1. Pushpendra Pandey, Aged about 39 years, S/o Shri Baidnatb Prasad, Presentiy working as Peon ia Govt. Boys PIaing Campus {Triba^, MancDdragarh, n 'tVJFt Raiaesh Kumar Vishwakarma, Aged about 40 years, S/o Late Shri Raaa. Jyawaa, Presenfty working as Cook in Oovfc Boys Playing Campus (Tribai), Manendragarh, Distt. Koaea, C.G. State of Chhattisgarh, Through Sccretaiy, Department of Geaeral Admiaisteation, D.K.S. Bhawan, Mautralaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 2. Coauaisskiner, Departiaent of Adim Jati & Tribal Welfare, Raipur, Chbattisgarh. 3. Assistaut Conimissiouer, Department of Tribal Welfare, Korea, Distt. Kora, Chhattisgarh. 4. Btock Mucation Of&cer, Manendragarh, Distt Korea, Chhattisgarh. Sia^le Beacb: Hon'blc Mr, Justicc Satish K. Agaihotri. ^ Shri Paakaj Shrivastava, Advcxiate for thc Ptetitioners. Miss Dcepail Paadey, Panel Lawyer for the ilespondents. ORDBR ( Passied on this 3ri day ofAp^it 'W07) 1. By this petition, fhe petitioners have chalteiiged the validily of fhc order dated 17.2.2007 (Aimexure P/2) passed by tfae Assistant Coiuinissioner, Tribal Devetopineat Korea (Respondent No.3), pursuaat to the circular dated 3. l.2007 (Aimcxure P/1) issued by the General Admmisteation Department, Govfc of Chhattisgarh, wliereundcr the graut of regular pay scates to the petitioners were withdrawn and the petitioners were paid thereafter daBy wages as per CoBector^s rate. The mdisputable facts iu uutsheB, are that mitiaBy the petitiouers were engaged on daily wages on various poats and fh.ereafter graated regular pay scafes as under:- Name ofthe petitioner Post 1. Sashikaat Dubey 2. Jawahar Lal 3. Kam Sai Kajwade 4. Bhajiju Ram 5. Shiv Kiuaar Rathorc 6. Hari Prasad 7. LaUuSingh 8, Balrain Singh 9. Ram Narayan Satiu lO.Ram Kiuaiar ll.KamKishun 12.8mt. Bcchni Bai 13.0alPratap 14,Kaja Babu IS.Shobhnath 16.Pushpendra Pandey IT.Kaincsh Kuinar Vishwakarma Dateof Appoiatmcnt Peon 5.8.1989 Peon 5.8.1989 C&owkKtar 31.3.1991 Cook 12.7.1991 Peon 15.1.1993 Peon 5.7.1989 Chowlddar 11.10.1989 1'con 7.10.1989 Waterman 1.6.1991 Pteon 7.10.1989 Peon 12.7.1989 Chowkidar 27.7.1991 Cook 13.1.1994 1'con Peon Peon Cook 29.5.1990 12./!.1993 16.4.1993 12.4,1993 Date of Regular 1'ay Scalc 1.9.1993 1.9.1993 26.6.1996 24.6.1996 26.12.1996 1.9.1993 11.10.1992 1/3.9.1993 26.6.1993 1.9.1993 1.9.1993 15.11.1996 2.9.1997 1.10.1993 12.1.1996 16.4.1996 16.8.1996 Lcamed counsel appearing for the petitioncrs submits that the State of Chhattisgarh tbrough fhe General Admiiusteatk>n Department issued a circular dated 3.1.2007 (Annexure P/l) wherein it B instructed that the employces who were engaged on daify wages afler 31.12.1988 and have beea regularized on completion of three years services, such regularization of employees is not ia accordance srifh. the rules/regulatious. Therefore, not to grant regular pay to any of such employees. Pursuaat to fhat circular dated 3,1.2007, ffae respondeut No.3 has issued the order dated 17.2.2007 (Annexure P/2) whereby the salaiy of fhe petitioners has been reduced to fhe CoBector's rate. Learaed counsel appearu^ &r the petitionera wouM conteud that once a r^ht of a particular pay scale has been graated to the petitioners in accordauce with law, ftie same cannot be wifhdrawn :v-fff^Wti»v^s"^^i :B':ll ^;^S®^^teS?"-.'?'?^M."---'z3E.?'.5B«=.-.- 6. 7. after a period of more fhaa teu years, without afiFording an opportuiuly of hearing. The petitiouers have acqiiired fhe right to fhe fixed niouthly pay scale as their serwfces weie regularized. Thus fhe unpugned cucular as weU as fhe iiupi^ned order are bad aud deserve to be quashed. Learned counsel for the petitioners heavity referred to a judgiaent aad order datjp-d 18th ilannary, 2006 passed hy t.his Coiirt m Writ Pfctition No, 2125/2002 (Saat Kumar & others Vs. State of Chhattis^rh & others), whcrcia fhis Court whilc coasidcring thc idcntical issuc of reducing the regular pay scate graated earlier, held that the order reducing fhe pay scate of an eiaployee behind thcir back, without foUowing auy procedure known to law is punitive and visits with cwil consequeuce. The same canaot be passed wittiout giving conceraed eiaployee, an opportunity ofhearfng. Leamed counsel for the petitiouer further submits fhat fhe respondents/State of Chhattisgarh preferred a Special Leave Petition (Civflt No. 17122/20(te (State of Chliattisgarh & others Vs. Sant Kumar & ofhers) before the Hon'bfc Supreme Court, challeagjng flie order dated 18.1.2006 (supra), passed by ttus Court aud the same has been dismissed by the Hon'ble Supreine Coiirt vide order dated 9.10.2006 after condoning fhe delay. In view of the foregoing, I ani of fh.e considered opinion fhat tihe uupugned order dated 17.2.2007 (Aimexure P/2), which has beeu issued pursuactt to fhe circular 3.1.2007 (Annexure P/l), is bad in law, being pun.itive iu nature, without affordiag au opportunily of liearing to the concemed employees (petitioners) for putting forward fheir cases. \ o 8. Accordingly the orier dated 17.2.2007 (Aunexure P/2) is quashed. The petitioners are entitted to regular pay scales feom the date the satae have been withdrawn by the unpugaed order. No order as to COStS. -^- Satish K. Agnihotn Judge I".du/ Thakur