WP(C) 3306/2010 BEFORE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE B.K. SHARMA Heard Mr. R.P. Sharma, learned Sr. counsel for the petitioners as well a s Dr. B. Ahmed, learned Standing counsel, Irrigation Department. I have also hea rd Ms. R. Chokraborty, learned State counsel. The petitioners are the Junior Engineers in Panchayat and Rural Developm ent Department. They claim pay parity with that of the Junior Engineers of the o ther departments such as PWD, Flood Control, Irrigation, PHE etc. It is the stan d of the petitioners that since they are holding the same post and the duties an d responsibilities involved in the post are also the same with that of those wor king in other departments, there cannot be any earthly reason as to why they sh ould not be given the same scale of pay as that of their counterparts in other d epartments. In the counter affidavit filed by the respondent No. 2, it has been stat ed thus: 4. That with regard to the statements made in paragraph-7 of the writ petitions , the deponent begs to state that so far as pay scale of 2010 are concerned, (i) there is no disparity between the pay scales of Junior Engineers under Panchaya t & Rural Development Department and the pay scales of Junior Engineers under PW D, PHE etc. (ii) but it is a fact that there is disparity between the pay scale of Junior Engineers under Panchayat & Rural Development Department and the Junio r Engineers (Sr. Grade) under PWD, PHE etc. Sr. Grade scale of pay was given to the Junior Engineers of PWD, PHE etc. Deptt. w.e.f. 1990 as per ROP Rules, 1990 and 1998. (iii) It is also a fact that the Junior Engineers under Panchayat & Ru ral Development Department are not enjoying the Sr. Grade scale of pay after com pletion of more than 8 years of their services. 5. That with regard to the statements made in paragraph-8 of the writ petition, the deponent states that as per Revised Scale of Pay in 2010, there is a differe nce between the pay scale of Junior Engineers under Panchayat & Rural Developmen t Department and the Junior Engineers (Sr. Grade) under PWD, PHE etc. as below: Scale of pay of Junior Engineers under Panchayat & Rural Development as well as under PWD, PHE etc. as (PB 2) + Grade Pay, i.e. Rs. 5200 - 20,200 + 2800 . Scale of pay of Junior Engineers (Sr. Grade) which is allowed after 8 years of service and on due selection under PWD, PHE etc. as PB 3 + Grade Pay, i.e. 8000 - 35,000 + 4300. 7. That with regard to statements made in paragraph 10 of the writ petition, the deponent states that the matter relating to framing of Draft Service Rules for Panchayat & Rural Development Department is under process. It may be stated that the Panchayat & Rural Development Department has borrowed the only one Junior E ngineer drawing Sr. Grade Pay of PWD, there is no scope of promotion in Panchaya t & Rural Development Department for the borrowing Junior Engineers. Mr. Sharma, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that considering the nature of the grievance of the petitioners, it will be appropriate for the Government to refer the matter to the Pay Anomaly Committee to resolve the issue . On the other hand, Dr. Ahmed, learned SC, Irrigation Department submits that t he matter needs to be resolved by the Personnel Department of the Govt. in consu ltation with the Finance Department. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of directing the res pondent No. 1 to refer the anomaly to the appropriate authority for proper resol ution of the matter taking into account all relevant facts and principles relati ng to parity in pay. The authority to whom the anomaly might be referred to, sha ll take a decision in the matter as expeditiously as possible preferably within six months from the date of making the reference. Whatever may be the outc ome of the examination, the same may be communicated to the petitioner. The writ petition is disposed of.