Tilottama Bhandar Kayastha and 5 Ors v. The State of Assam and 3 Ors

ORDER Date : 25-10-2024 Heard Ms. S.G. Baruah, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard the learned standing counsel, Health as well as Mr. P. Nayak, learned standing counsel, Finance Department.

¶2The petitioners have filed this writ petition praying for a direction to the respondent authorities to re-fix the initial pay of the petitioners as per the provision of Revision of Pay Rules, 1990 with all consequential benefits including the arrears.

¶3The petitioners, who are the employees of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Assam have been appointed between 01.03.1899 to 30.03.1989. It is contended that although their initial pay revision to be fixed in terms of the provision of Revision of Pay Rules, 1990 w.e.f.

01.01.1989, the benefit accrued to them has not been granted. It is further contended that similarly situated employees of the Govt. of Assam in other departments and Directorates have been extended benefits of the provision of Revision of Pay Rules, 1990.

¶4The petitioners contended that similarly situated employees in the Directorate of Sericulture, Department of Handloom and Textiles and Directorate of Health Services (FW), Assam have been paid their initial pay applying the provision of Revision of Pay 1990. However, their fixation has been cancelled by the authorities consequent to which they had approached this Court by filing writ petition, wherein, the petitioners stated that some similarly placed employees in the Directorate of Sericulture, Department of Handloom and Textiles and Department of Directorate of Health Services (FW), Assam were paid their initial pay applying the provisions of the ROP Rules, 1990. However, by subsequent orders their fixation has been cancelled by the department, consequently, they approached the Hon'ble Page No.# 4/5 Gauhati High Court by way of a writ petition being Civil Rule No.6567/1998. The said case was finally heard on 18.11.2002. The Hon'ble High Court after hearing the learned counsel for the parties vide judgment and order dated 18.11.2002 in Civil Rule No.6567/1998 has set aside the impugned order dated 16.09.1998 with an observation that the petitioner (in Civil Rule No.6567/1998) shall be given all consequential benefits in view of the re-fixation of the revised pay scale in terms of the order dated

23.04.1998.

¶5The petitioners contended that following the said judgment and order, similarly placed employees in the Handloom and Textiles Department approached this Hon'ble Court by way of filing WP(C) No.1806/2009 and WP(C) 1666/2009 and this Court vide common judgment and order dated

16.11.2012, directed the Department of Handloom and Textiles to look into the grievances of the petitioners therein for refixation of their pay so that the same does not amount to fixation at a stage which is lesser than the total emolument which they used to receive under the pre-revised scale of pay and similarly placed employees of Department of Directorate of Health Services (FW), Assam .

¶6Some similarly placed employees approached this Hon'ble High Court by filing a writ petition bearing WP(C) 2444/2019 and this Court vide and order dated 21.02.2022 directed to revisit the issue regarding fixation of pay of the petitioners of WP(C) 2444/2019. This Hon'ble Court in a similarly situated group of petitioners who approached the Hon'ble Court in WP(C) 772/2024 and WP(C) 1985/2024 disposed of the said writ petition 772/2024 and WP(C) 1985/2024 by an order dated

04.03.2024 and 17.05.2024 respectively and directed the respondent to revisit the issue with regard to fixation of pay and that the department would be guided by the judgment and order dated 16.11.2012 passed din Civil Rule No.6567/1998 and WP(C) 1806/2009 and other connected matters.

¶7It is contended by the petitioners that the pay of the petitioners is required to be re-fixed on the ground that the petitioners are being paid lesser pay and emoluments.

¶8Ms. S.G. Baruah, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the case of the petitioners is squarely covered by the judgment and order dated 18.11.2002 passed in Civil Rule 6567/1998 and judgment and order dated 16.11.2012 passed in WP(C) 1806/2009 and other connected writ petition. She submits that this Court on 04.03.2024 in WP(C) 772/2024 has observed that in terms of the judgment and order dated 16.11.2012 passed in WP(C) 1806/2009 and other connected matters, the issue regarding fixation of pay is required to be revisit by the respondent No.3. It is also provided that while considering the case of the petitioners, the respondent No.3 would be guided by the judgment and order dated 16.11.2012 passed in Civil Rule 6567/98 and WP(C) 1806/2009 and consequently, directed Page No.# 5/5 the respondent authorities to carry out the exercise within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the order.

¶9Mr. P. Nayak, learned Standing counsel, Finance Department submits that in view of the applicable Office Memorandum, it would be difficult to revisit and refixed the pay of the petitioners as it would not be in accordance with the Rules.

¶10On perusal of the judgment and order of this Court in the connected writ petitions, although the learned counsel for the respondent have vehemently opposed the disposal of the writ petition in the light of the aforesaid judgment and orders referred above, this Court finds that the judgment and orders (supra) squarely covers the grievance raised by the petitioners.

¶11Having considered that the above referred judgment and orders of this Court squarely covers the case of the petitioners, as the petitioners are similarly situated employees of the State Government, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition providing the similar direction as the judicial discipline and propriety demands to follow the judgment and order of the coordinate Bench unless there is a reason to disagree with the same.

¶12In view of the above, this Court is of the view that the judgment and order dated 16.11.2012 passed in WP(C) 1806/2009 and other similar orders (supra) on the issue regarding fixation of pay is required to be revisited by the respondent authorities. Accordingly, the respondent authorities are directed to revisit the same. It is provided that while considering the grievance of the petitioners, the respondent authorities would be guided by the judgment and order of this Court as aforementioned. It is further directed that the respondent authorities shall consider the same within a period of 2(two) months from the date of receipt of the copy of this order.

¶13In terms of the above, writ petition stands disposed of.

JUDGE Comparing Assistant

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