Central Administrative Tribunal - Srinagar
Pir Irshad Ahmad vs Power Development Department on 21 April, 2026
ITEM 4 1 OA 356 OF 2026
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
SRINAGAR BENCH, SRINAGAR
O.A. 356/2026
Date of Order: 21st April, 2026
CORAM
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RITU TAGORE, MEMBER(JUDL.)
1. Pir Irshad Ahmad Age 50yrs
Parentage: Pir QamarUd Din
Residence: Khaipora,Tehsil Handwara District Kupwara
Pin Code: 193302
H. No. Mobile No. 9797760190
2. Khurshid Ahmad Shah Age: 58
Parentage: Mohd Abdullah Shah
Residence:UdiporaLangate, District Kupwara.
Pin Code: 193302
H no. Mobile No. 9622549349
3. Ravinder Singh Age 58
Parentage: Deedar Singh
Residence: Deedarpora Langate District Kupwara.
Pin Code: 193302 H. No.
Mobile No. 7780836321
4. Sulinder Singh Age. 52
Parentage: Omkar Singh
Residence: DeedarporaLangate District Kupwara.
Pin Code: 193302H. No.
Mobile No. 7780890450
5. Gh Mohd Bhat. Age 56
Parentage: Mohd Abdullah Bhat
Residence: Maidanpora Lolab District Kupwara.
Pin Code: 193223H. No.
Mobile No. 7006940552
6. Gh MohiUd Din Lone Age 54.
Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi
Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=
1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7
edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh,
SERIALNUMBER=
Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262
309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi
Reason: I am the author of this document
ITEM 4 2 OA 356 OF 2026
Parentage: Ab Gani Lone
Residence: Walrama, Kupwara.
Pin Code: 193302H. No.
Mobile No. 9541297882
7. Bashir Ahmad Sheikh Age 54.
Parentage: Mohd Jamal Sheikh
Residence: Regiporakupwara. District Kupwara.
Pin Code: 193222.H.No.
Mobile No. 9419029994
8. Gh MohiUd Din Sheikh Age 54.
Parentage: Gh Mohd Sheikh
Residence: Regipora Kupwara District Kupwara.
Pin Code: 193222 H. No.
Mobile No.600590015
9. Mumtaz Ahmad Age 56.
Parentage: Mohd Hussain Mir
Residence: Khawarpara Tehsil Karnah District. Kupwara.
Pin Code: 193225 H. No....
Mobile No.9797125331
10. Mohd SRafiA57
Parentage: Gh Sarwar Mir
Residence: Dildar Karnah District Kupwara.
Pin Code: 193225 H. No...
Mobile No. 9797663898
11. Mohd Tahir Khan Age 55
Parentage: Mohd Safeer Khan
Residence:Dawaran Uri. Baraamula.
Pin Code: 193122 H. No.
Mobile No. 8082215824
12. Ghulam NabiAge 54.
Parentage: Mohd Yousuf
Residence: Dawaran Teshil Uri District Baramulla.
Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi
Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=
1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7
edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh,
SERIALNUMBER=
Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262
309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi
Reason: I am the author of this document
ITEM 4 3 OA 356 OF 2026
Pin Code: 193122 H. No.
Mobile No. 7051074845
13. Mohd Hanief MugalAge 58
Parentage: Umer Din
Residence: Dawaran Uri District Baramulla
Pin Code: 193122 H. No.
Mobile No. 9541526401
14. Mohd Imran Khan Age 44
Parentage: Mohd Anwar Khan
Residence: Dawaran Uri District Baramulla
Pin Code: 193122 H. No.
Mobile No. 9622417092
15. Bashir Ahmad Bhat Age. 61.(Retire)
Parentage: Ghulam Rasool Bhat
Residence: Supernaghama Tehsil
District Kupwara at present. Mir Sahib Baramulla.
Pin Code: 193101 H. No.
Mobile No..6006074148
16. Nazir Ahmad MeldiyalAge 64 (Retire)
Parentage: Mohd Ismail
Residence: KandiKarnah
Pin Code: 193225 H. No.
Mobile No.8491071644
17. Manzoor Ahmad Beigh Age 62.(Death /Retire)
Parentage: Mohd Sumandar Beigh
Residence: Maidanpora Lolab District Kupwara.
Through His Wife
18.Mubeena Begum. Age 47
Pin Code: 193223 H. No.
Mobile No. 8493059825
Mohd Yousouf DAR Age 61.(Retire)
Parentage: Mohd IshaqDar
Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi
Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=
1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7
edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh,
SERIALNUMBER=
Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262
309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi
Reason: I am the author of this document
ITEM 4 4 OA 356 OF 2026
Residence: KripalporaballaPattan Baramulla.
Pin Code: 193121H. No.
Mobile No. 9797274100
19. Sheikh Ishtiyaq Ahmad Age 54
Parentage: Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh
Residence: Iqbal colony rawalpora peerbagh District
Srinagar. Pin Code: 190005 H. No.
Mobile No. 882508904.
...... Applicants
By Advocate :
Mr. Abbas Lodhi
VERSUS
1 Union Territory of J&K Commissioner/Secretary,
Power Development Department (PDD), Civil
Secretariat, Srinagar 190001
2 Chief Engineer, KPDCL PDD Complex, Srinagar
190001
3.Chief Engineer, JKPTCL. PDD Complex Bemina,
Srinagar, 190018
4. Executive Engineer STD 1st PDD Complex, Bemina,
Srinagar 190018
5. Executive Engineer ED 3 rd Shireen Bagh, Srinagar
190010
6. Executive Engineer STD 2nd Rajbagh,
7. Executive Engineer TLMD IV Transmission Line
Maintenance Div-IV, Pampore 192121
Srinagar 190008
8.Executive Engineer ECWD Electric Central Workshop
Division, Pampore 192121
9.Executive Engineer TLMD VIII JKPTCL, PDD
Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi
Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=
1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7
edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh,
SERIALNUMBER=
Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262
309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi
Reason: I am the author of this document
ITEM 4 5 OA 356 OF 2026
Complex, Bemina, Srinagar 190018.
10. Executive Engineer ED IV Khanyar Srinagar. 190003
11. Principal Accountant, General, (A&E), J&K, Srinagar
Jammu Email ID: www.agjk.nic.in. PIN CODE- 190001.
......Respondents
By Advocate :-
Mr. Rais Ud Din Ganaie, DAG for R-1 to R-10
Mr. B A Zargar for R-11
O R D E R (FINAL)
JUSTICE RITU TAGORE, MEMBER [JUDL.]
01. Without proceeding further, it is revealed from the record that the applicants have filed M.A. No. 462/2026 seeking permission to file a joint application. The same is allowed for the reasons stated therein.
02.Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are employees of the Power Development Department who were initially appointed as Technician- III in the year 1998 and were subsequently promoted to Technician-II in 2008 and Technician-I in 2014. Despite such promotions, their initial entry-level post remains Technician-III. The applicants have approached this Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7 edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262 309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi Reason: I am the author of this document ITEM 4 6 OA 356 OF 2026 Tribunal seeking the benefit of SRO-149 of 1973.
03.It is submitted that the applicants are matriculates possessing ITI certificates/diplomas in the Electrician trade and were appointed through JKSSRB pursuant to Advertisement Notice No. SSB-3 of 1995 dated 07.03.1995. Copies of the advertisement notice and appointment orders are annexed as Annexures- A/1 and A/2, respectively.
04.Learned counsel further submits that SRO-149 of 1973 provided higher pay scales to technical/skilled employees, including ITI-qualified personnel, and that the applicants are squarely covered under the said provision.
05.It is submitted that the issue regarding grant of benefit under SRO-149 of 1973 stands conclusively settled by the judgment of the Hon'ble High Court in Provincial Power Employees Union vs. State (judgment dated 08.05.2017), wherein the respondents were directed to extend the benefit to all similarly situated employees. The said judgment has attained finality upon dismissal of the Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7 edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262 309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi Reason: I am the author of this document ITEM 4 7 OA 356 OF 2026 Special Leave Petition by the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dated 04.02.2026 (Annexure A/4).
06.It is further submitted that the Hon'ble High Court, in its subsequent judgment dated 12.03.2026 in Union Territory of J&K vs. Farooq Ahmad Zargar (Annexure A/5), has reaffirmed that the issue stands finally settled and that the benefit cannot be denied merely on the ground that an employee was not a party to the earlier litigation.
07.Learned counsel also places reliance upon a series of decisions rendered by this Tribunal, including O.A. No. 155/2022 (Hamidullah Beigh & Anr.), O.A. No. 101/2024 (Ichpal Singh & Ors.), T.A. No. 104/2021 (Rashid Ahmad Ganie & Ors.), T.A. No. 3236/2021 (Mohammad Amin Shah & Ors.), and O.A. No. 114/2021 (Chander Kant & Ors.), wherein similarly situated employees have been granted the benefit of SRO-149 of 1973. Copies of the said orders are annexed collectively as Annexure A/6.
08.It is contended that the applicants are similarly situated to Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7 edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262 309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi Reason: I am the author of this document ITEM 4 8 OA 356 OF 2026 those employees who have already been extended the benefit, as they possess identical qualifications and discharge identical duties. Denial of such benefit to the applicants is arbitrary, discriminatory, and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
09.It is further submitted that even the Government has acknowledged the finality of the issue by convening a meeting in February 2026 to consider implementation of SRO-149 of 1973 following dismissal of the SLP and by calling for details of beneficiaries and financial implications. However, despite such acknowledgment, the benefit has not been extended to the applicants.
10.Learned counsel submits that repeated representations have been made by the applicants; however, no decision has been taken thereon, rendering the inaction of the respondents arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of the principles of natural justice.
11.In view of the above, learned counsel submits that the action of the respondents in denying the benefit is illegal, Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7 edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262 309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi Reason: I am the author of this document ITEM 4 9 OA 356 OF 2026 arbitrary, and discriminatory, compelling the applicants to approach this Tribunal.
12.However, after arguing for some time, learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants would be satisfied if a direction is issued to the respondents to treat the present O.A., along with the representations annexed as Annexure A/8, as representations, and to consider and decide the same in light of the judgments annexed as Annexures A/3, A/4, A/5, and A/6, particularly the judgment in Provincial Power Employees Union (supra), which stands affirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dated 04.02.2026, in accordance with law within a stipulated period.
13.Mr. Rais Ud Din Ganaie, learned Dy. A.G., and Mr. B A Zargar appear for the respondents.
14.In view of the limited prayer made by learned counsel for the applicants, and without commenting on the merits of the case, the present O.A. is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to treat the present O.A., along with the Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7 edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262 309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi Reason: I am the author of this document ITEM 4 10 OA 356 OF 2026 representations annexed as Annexure A/8, as representations, and to consider and decide the same in light of the judgments annexed as Annexures A/3, A/4, A/5, and A/6, particularly the judgment in Provincial Power Employees Union (supra), which stands affirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dated 04.02.2026, in accordance with law, by examining the entitlement of the applicants and whether they are similarly situated, keeping in view the averments made in the O.A. and the documents placed on record.
15.A reasoned and speaking order shall be passed in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations governing the field, provided there is no legal impediment.
16.The needful shall be done within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.
17.With the above directions, the O.A. stands disposed of. All pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of.
Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7 edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262 309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi Reason: I am the author of this document ITEM 4 11 OA 356 OF 2026
18.There shall be no order as to costs.
19.Registry shall consign the file to the Record Room.
(JUSTICE RITU TAGORE) Member(Judl.) 21-04-2026 DEVENDRA TRIPATHI Digitally signed by Devendra Tripathi Devendra DN: C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7 edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= Tripathi 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262 309ae27cb, CN=Devendra Tripathi Reason: I am the author of this document