Gurjant Singh And Others vs State Of Punjab And Others
2024 Latest Caselaw 8430 P&H

Punjab-Haryana High Court

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

               CWP-8773-2024                        2024:PHHC:053648                              1

                                   IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA
                                              AT CHANDIGARH
               130
                                                                CWP-8773-2024
                                                                Date of decision: 22.04.2024

               Gurjant Singh and others
                                                                                ....Petitioners
                                                    Versus

               State of Punjab and others
                                                                               ...Respondents

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

Present : Mr. Rahul Bhargava and Mr. Tanveer Singh, Advocates for the petitioners.

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

1. The prayer made in the present petition is for directing the

respondents to grant equal pay to the petitioners, who are working on contract

basis since 2015 and to count their period of service during which they

worked on outsourcing basis.

2. Learned counsel would submit that the petitioners, who were

working as Conductors from 2007 to 2010, appointed on regular basis after

outsourcing and thereafter since 2015 on contractual basis pursuant to an

advertisement having been issued, are claiming equal pay for equal work in

terms of judgment in the case of State of Punjab and others vs. Jagjit Singh

and others, 2016 (4) SCT 641. He further submits that one similar employee

working as Traffic Manager has been granted the said benefit vide order dated

13.07.2023. In this regard, a legal notice dated 08.09.2023, 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

integrity of this order/judgment

opportunity of hearing.

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 legal notice dated 08.09.2023, 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







integrity of this order/judgment