Charanjeet Singh And Others vs State Of Punjab And Others

Punjab-Haryana High Court

Charanjeet Singh And Others vs State Of Punjab And Others on 22 April, 2024

               CWP-8775-2024                          2024:PHHC:053667                               1

                                   IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA
                                              AT CHANDIGARH
               131
                                                                  CWP-8775-2024
                                                                  Date of decision: 22.04.2024

               Charanjeet Singh and others
                                                                                   ....Petitioners
                                                      Versus

               State of Punjab and others
                                                                                  ...Respondents

               CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY
                                                 *****

Present : Mr. R.S. Rangpuri, Advocate for the petitioners.

***** AMAN CHAUDHARY. J (Oral)

1. The prayer made in the present petition is for directing the respondents to grant the petitioners benefit of increment of higher responsibility under Rule 4.4 and 4.13 of the Punjab Civil Service Rules, Vol.I.

2. Learned counsel would submit that the petitioners are entitled to grant of one increment for higher responsibility that was assigned to them on 09.09.2019, Annexure P-1, in terms of the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in State of Punjab vs. Lal Singh, Civil Appeal No.15057 of 1996, decided on 18.11.1996 and followed by judgments of this Court in Sukhdip Singh vs. State of Punjab, CWP-18307-1996, decided on 07.07.2000 and Murli Dhar Aggarwal vs. State of Haryana, CWP-8812-2000, decided on 14.03.2002. In this regard, a demand notice dated 20.03.2024, Annexure P-6, has been served upon the respondents, which has yet not evoked any response. He thus, at this stage, on instructions, submits that the petitioners are sanguine of it being considered in a positive manner, in case, a direction is given to the respondents to decide the same in a time bound manner by granting them an HAMANT opportunity of hearing.

I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this order/judgment CWP-8775-2024 2024:PHHC:053667 2

3. Notice of motion.

4. At the asking of the Court, Mr. Gagneshwar Walia, Addl. A.G., Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State and has no objection to the limited prayer made.

5. In view of the above and without commenting upon the merits of the case, this petition is hereby disposed of with a direction to the respondents to decide the demand notice dated 20.03.2024, Annexure P-6, within a period of six months, which this Court has no reason to believe the authorities would not address in a just, fair and reasonable manner. Upon doing so, after notice and hearing offered to them and if found entitled, grant the benefit forthwith. Needless to say, if the orders are adverse to their interest, the same shall contain reasons and the petitioners shall be free to seek legal redress thereupon.

                                                                     (AMAN CHAUDHARY)
                                                                          JUDGE
               22.04.2024
               Hemant

                           Whether speaking/reasoned             :      Yes / No
                           Whether reportable                    :      Yes / No




HAMANT
2024.04.23 10:41
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this order/judgment