Madhya Pradesh High Court
Kalu Ram Narwaria vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh Thr on 6 April, 2015
Writ Petition No.2000/2015
Kaluram Narwariya
vs.
State of MP & others
1
06.04.2015
Shri B.P.Singh, Advocate for the petitioner.
Shri Pravin Newaskar, Dy.Govt. Advocate for the
respondent/State.
Heard.
The grievance of the petitioner is that he has been classified as a permanent employee by the employer by order, Annexure P/2. This permanent status is not taken away till date. Despite classifying the petitioner as a permanent employee, he has not been given pay scale attached to the said permanent post. In addition, the petitioner is praying for the benefits of DA, increments, seniority and other benefits.
2. During the course of argument, Shri B.P.Singh relied on a Division Bench judgment passed in Writ Appeal No. 110/2011 and other connected matters, decided on 1.11.2011. It is contended that the Supreme Court affirmed the said order recently on 21.1.2015. It is contended that the respondents shall consider the case of the petitioner in the light of said judgment.
3. Shri Pravin Newaskar, learned Deputy Writ Petition No.2000/2015 Kaluram Narwariya vs. State of MP & others 2 Government Advocate submits that so far the decision of Division Bench and Supreme Court aforesaid is concerned, he is not disputing the legal position. He submits that on facts, every petitioner's case needs to be examined.
4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties at length.
5. The Division Bench in Writ Appeal No. 110/2011 and connected matters (Annexure P/3) opined as under:-
"whether an employee comes by way of normal recruitment process or through the process of classification, the fact remains that both i.e. the normally recruited employee and a classified employee work on the same post and perform the same duties. It cannot be held that the classification has any less effect or force as compared to the normal process of appointment, because the classification is also based upon the law in the form of Standing Orders and as such both employees who have been brought into service through either of the two processes permitted by law, as permanent employees against a particular post, should be entitled to the same benefits. Taking a contrary view would mean that the employees inducted Writ Petition No.2000/2015 Kaluram Narwariya vs. State of MP & others 3 through classification process would be saddled with an undesirable disability throughout their service, as compared to other employees which may tantamount to violation of the principle of "equal pay for equal work". Our view finds support from another Division Bench decision of this Court report in the case of State of M.P. Vs. Ram Prakash (1989 JLJ 36).
For the aforementioned reasons, we do not find any good ground to interfere with the order passed by the learned Single Judge. Accordingly, the writ appeals are dismissed.
6. The Apex Court dismissed the SLP (Civil) No.(s) 20025/2011. The Apex Court opined as under:-
"In Rest of the Matters Delay condoned.
Dismissed.
We direct the State Government to implement the order(s) passed by the High Court within eight months' time from today.
If for any reason, the petitioner-State does not implement the order(s) passed by the High Court, the respondents are at liberty to approach this Court by way of filing contempt petition(s)."
7. Apart from this, similar orders passed by this Court are affirmed by the Division Bench and by Supreme Writ Petition No.2000/2015 Kaluram Narwariya vs. State of MP & others 4 Court.
8. Considering the aforesaid, it can be safely concluded that the ratio decidendi of the judgment passed by this Court in State of MP vs. Ramprakash, reported in 1989 JLJ 36, followed in Writ Appeal No. 110/2011, is that the mode of induction as a permanent employee through Standard Standing Orders is also a permissible and statutory mode of induction. Once an employee is given permanent status under the Standing Orders, he becomes a permanent employee for all purposes. The said judgment in Ramprakash and in Writ Appeal No. 110/2011 has to be read as a judgment in rem and not a judgment in personame.
9. In view of this ratio, a model employer/welfare State should extend the similar benefits to all similarly situated persons. We are not oblivious of the fact that a sizable number of poor employees, who are in a lower echelon of the State Government service, are required to knock the doors of the Court for seeking similar relief. This kind of litigation can be avoided, if Government extends the benefits to all similarly situated persons.
Writ Petition No.2000/2015Kaluram Narwariya vs. State of MP & others 5 Once the Government's SLPs are dismissed and the legal position has attained a finality, in all fairness, the respondents should extend the benefit of the said principle to all similarly situated employees. In (1985) 2 SCC 648 (Inder Pal Yadav and others vs. Union of India and others), the Apex Court opined as under:-
"Therefore, those who could not come to the court need not be at a comparative disadvantage to those who rushed in here. If they are otherwise similarly situated, they are entitled to similar treatment, if not by anyone else at the hands of this Court."
10. In the light of aforesaid and at the cost of repetition, in my opinion, the judgment passed in State of MP vs. Ramprakash (supra) is a judgment in rem. The same can be said about the order dated 1.11.2011 (Annexure P/3). Resultantly, this petition is disposed of by following directions :-
(1) The petitioner shall file a fresh representation before respondents along with the proof of acquiring permanent status by way of classification. The respondents shall verify and if Writ Petition No.2000/2015 Kaluram Narwariya vs. State of MP & others 6 petitioner's permanent status remains intact, he shall be given similar treatment, i.e., grant of regular pay scale attached to the permanent post from the date of classification as permanent employee.
(2) The respondents shall also grant increments attached to the pay scale and if rules permit, extend benefit of DA in favour of the petitioner. (3) The respondents shall also pass a speaking order regarding claim of grant of seniority to the petitioner from the date of classification as permanent employee.
(4) If for any justifiable reason, the petitioner is not found entitled for any of the benefits claimed, a detailed and reasoned order be passed and communicated to the petitioner. The aforesaid exercise be completed within 120 days from the date of production of copy of this order along with the representation.
(5) It is made clear that it will not be open to the respondents to deny relief to the petitioners on the Writ Petition No.2000/2015 Kaluram Narwariya vs. State of MP & others 7 ground that they were not litigants in W.A. No. 1266/2010 and other similar matters, which were decided on merits, if they are otherwise similarly situated.
Petition is disposed of.
(Sujoy Paul)
(Yog) Judge