Central Administrative Tribunal - Chandigarh
Jitender Kumar vs Pgi Chandigarh on 16 July, 2025
1 (OA No. 1191/2021)
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
CHANDIGARH BENCH
Reserved on : 02.07.2025
Pronounced on: 16.07.2025
OA No. 060/1191/2021
HON'BLE SH. RAMESH SINGH THAKUR MEMBER (J)
HON'BLE MRS. RASHMI SAXENA SAHNI, MEMBER (A)
1. Jitender Kumar aged 42 years s/o Late Sh. Subhash, Personal
Assistant, Department of Gastroenterology, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e-mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
2. Smt. Sushila Kumar aged 51 years w/o Sh. Prem Parkash,
Personal Assistant, Medical Education & Research Cell, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - e mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
3. Harish Ahuja aged 52 years s/o Sh. Khushi Ram, Personal
Assistant, Office of Financial Advisor, PGIMER, Chandigarh, e
mail : [email protected] 160012 (Group-B)
4. Mrs. Deep Mala aged 42 years w/o Sh. Rajesh Gupta, Personal
Assistant, Department of Radiotherapy, PGIMER, Chandigarh e
mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
5. Surinder Kumar aged 53 years s/o Sh.Kishan Singh, Personal
Assistant, Department of Anatomy, PGIMER, Chandigarh - e-
mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
6. Mrs. Suman aged 44 years w/o Sh. Jaswant Singh, Personal
Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, PGIMER, Chandigarh e
mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
7. Parveen Kumar aged 55 years s/o Late Sh. Sat Pal, Personal
Assistant, Department of Forensic Medicine, PGIMER,
Chandigarh [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
8. Amit Rawat aged 40 years s/o Sh. Satendra Rawat, Personal
Assistant, O/o Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh email:
[email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
9. Deepak Mehta 43 years s/o Late Sh. Raj Kumar, Personal
Assistant, PGIMER, r/o HB 59, Ground Floor, Phase 1, SAS
Nagar, Mohali e mail: [email protected]. 160055
(Group-B)
10. Sanjay Kumar aged 50 years s/o Sh. Raj Kumar, Personal
Assistant, O/o OSD to President, Advanced Cardiac Centre,
PGIMER, Chandigarh e-mail: [email protected].
160012 (Group-B)
11. Mrs. Anu Monga aged 49 years w/o Sh. Sonik Monga, Personal
Assistant, O/o Senior Administrative Officer (Hospital) PGIMER,
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Chandigarh e-mail : [email protected] (Group-
B)
12. Navneet Bansal aged 40 years s/o Late Sh. Ramesh Chand,
Personal Assistant, O/o Chief Nursing Officer, PGIMER, r/o
House No.2816, Sector 15, Panchkula e-mail:
[email protected]. 134113 (Group-B)
13. Parminder Singh aged 49 years s/o S. Jaswant Singh, Personal
Assistant, Department of Medical Microbiology, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e-mail: [email protected]. 160012
(Group-B)
14. Sonu aged 42 years s/o Late Sh. Faquir Chand, Personal
Assistant, O/o Sr. Administrative Officer (Vigilance), PGIMER,
Chandigarh - e-mail: [email protected]
(Group-B)
15. Satinder Jassal aged 50 years s/o Sh. S.L. Jassal, Personal
Assistant, PGIMER, r/o House No.2761, Sector 22-C,
Chandigarh e mail: [email protected]. 160022
(Group-B)
16. Fateh Singh aged 49 years s/o Late Sh. Narayan Singh,
Personal Assistant, Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - e mail: [email protected]. 160012
(Group-B)
17. Naresh Kumar aged 49 years s/o Sh. Rajinder Nath, Personal
Assistant, O/o Deputy Director (Admn.), PGIMER, Chandigarh,
e-mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
18. Mrs. Ranjana Sharma aged 52 years w/o Sh. Ajay Sharma,
Personal Assistant, O/o Sr. Administrative Officer (Hospital),
PGIMER, Chandigarh - e-mail : [email protected].
160012 (Group-B)
19. Tarsame Lal aged 56 years s/o Sh. Rattan Lal, Private
Secretary, Department of Cytology, PGIMER, Chandigarh e-mail
: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
20. Anil Sharma aged 55 years s/o Sh. Onkar Chand, Private
Secretary, Department of Neurology, PGIMER, Chandigarh e-
mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
21. Neeraj Kumar Gupta aged 57 years s/o Late Sh. Jagdish
Chander, Private Secretary, Department of Internal Medicine,
PGIMER, Chandigarh e- mail : [email protected]. 160012
(Group-B)
22. Tajinder Singh aged 54 years s/o Sh. Lajpal Singh, Private
Secretary, Department of Experimental Medicine, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
23. Mohinder Grover aged 58 years s/o Late Sh. G.D. Grover,
Private Secretary, Department of E.N.T., PGIMER, Chandigarh e
mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
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24. Mrs. Kanchan Sharma aged 49 years w/o Sh.Satdev Vashisht,
Private Secretary, Department of Obst. & Gynae., PGIMER,
Chandigarh e mail : [email protected]. 160012
(Group-B)
25. Ravinder Sharma aged 57 years s/o Late Sh. S.C. Sharma,
Private Secretary, Department of Cardiology, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e-mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
26. Sunil Dutt Sharma aged 56 years s/o Late Sh.D.D. Sharma,
Private Secretary, Department of Transfusion Medicine,
PGIMER, Chandigarh e-mail : [email protected].
160012 (Group-B)
27. Raman Kumar Taneja aged 52 years s/o Sh. R.S. Verma,
Private Secretary, Department of Radiodiagnosis, PGIMER,
Chandigarh, e mail : [email protected]. 160012
(Group-B)
28. Mrs. Kiran Sharma aged 58 years w/o Sh. Yash Pal Sharma,
Private Secretary, Department of Anaesthesia, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - e mail : [email protected]. 160012
(Group-B)
29. Mrs. Anita Kanwal aged 51 years w/o Sh. K.S. Malhotra, Private
Secretary, Department of Immunopathology, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
30. Mrs. Punam Vats aged 54 years w/o Sh. Sanjay Vats, Private
Secretary, PGIMER r/o House No.1438, Sector 20-B,
Chandigarh - e-mail : [email protected]. 160020
(Group-B)
31. Puran Chand Pant aged 55 years s/o Sh. H.B. Pant, Private
Secretary, PGIMER r/o House No.3095-A, Sector 24-D,
Chandigarh e mail: [email protected]. 160023 (Group-B)
32. Mrs. Kiran Jyoti aged 53 years w/o Sh. S.P. Sahni, Private
Secretary, Department of Histopathology, PGIMER, Chandigarh
- e-mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
33. Sanjeev Kumar aged 50 years s/o Sh. Sat Pal, Private
Secretary, Department of Nuclear Medicine, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e mail : [email protected]. 160012
(Group-B)
34. Sandeep Kumar aged 42 years s/o Late Sh. Sewa Ram, Private
Secretary, Department of Anaesthesia, PGIMER, Chandigarh e-
mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
35. Manoj Kumar aged 49 years s/o Late Sh. Badri Nath, Private
Secretary, PGIMER, r/o House No.3111, Sector 24-D,
Chandigarh e mail: [email protected]. 160023 (Group-
B)
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36. Deepak Jugran aged 38 years s/o Sh. Rama Kant Jugran,
Private Secretary, Department of Ophthalmology, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e-mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
37. Amritpal Singh aged 42 years s/o Sh. Rajpal Singh, Private
Secretary, O/o Deputy Director (Admn.), PGIMER, Chandigarh -
e-mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
38. Ominder Kumar aged 53 years s/o Sh. Hari Singh, Private
Secretary, Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh - e-
mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-B)
39. Sanjay Abrol aged 44 years s/o Sh. Romesh Abrol, Private
Secretary, PGIMER, r/o House No.330, Eco City Phase 1, Sector
6-A, New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) [email protected].
160012 (Group-B)
40. Mrs. Sunita Devi aged 49 years w/o Sh. Kanti Prasad, Private
Secretary, Department of General Surgery, PGIMER,
Chandigarh [email protected]. 140901 (Group-B)
41. Bhupinder Singh Hira aged 57 years s/o Sh. Santokh Singh,
Principal Private Secretary, PGIMER, r/o House No.3145, Sector
24-D, Chandigarh e mail : [email protected]. 160023
(Group-A)
42. Narender Nijhara aged 52 years s/o Late Sh. Navneet Lal,
Principal Private Secretary O/o Dean (Research) PGIMER,
Chandigarh e mail : [email protected]. 160012
(Group-A)
43. Mrs. Harinder Kaur aged 54 years w/o Late S.Jagdeep Singh,
Principal Private Secretary, PGIMER, r/o 264/8, Gobind Colony,
Kharar, Distt. Mohali e mail : [email protected].
140301 (Group-A)
44. Ashok Kumar aged 51 years s/o Late Sh. Khajan Chand,
Principal Private Secretary, O/o Superintending Hospital
Engineer, PGIMER, Chandigarh e-mail :
[email protected]. 160012 (Group-A)
45. Mohan Lal Malik aged 51 years s/o Late Sh. Daulat Ram,
Principal Private Secretary, PGIMER r/o House No.2663-P,
Sector 21, Part -3, Panchkula e mail: [email protected].
134114 (Group-A)
46. Mrs. Sandeep Gupta aged 59 years w/o Sh. Sanjeev Gupta,
Stenographer, Department of Histopathology, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e-mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-
C)
47. Mrs. Raman Kumari aged 60 years w/o Sh. Ved Bhushan Gupta,
Stenographer, PGIMER r/o House No.1647/1, Sector 40-B,
Chandigarh e-mail: [email protected]. 160037
(Group-C)
48. Mrs. Satnam Kaur aged 59 years w/o Sh. Jaswinder Singh,
Stenographer, Department of Community Medical & School of
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Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh [email protected].
160012 (Group-C)
49. Mrs. Susheel Puri aged 57 years w/o Sh. Sanjeev Puri,
Stenographer, Department of Orthopaedics, PGIMER,
Chandigarh [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
50. Mrs. Rajni Nagpal aged 55 years w/o Sh. Prem Nagpal,
Stenographer, Department of General Surgery, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-
C)
51. Ms. Kuldip Kaur aged 59 years w/o Late Sh. Manjit Singh,
Stenographer, Department of Parasitology, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - e mail : [email protected]. 160012
(Group-C)
52. Mrs. Poonam Rawal aged 56 years, w/o Sh. Pardeep Rawal,
Stenographer, Department of Dermatology, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - e mail: [email protected]. 160012
(Group-C)
53. Mrs. Kiran Negi aged 55 years w/o Sh. B.P.S. Negi,
Stenographer, Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh e
mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
54. Mrs. Anju Gupta aged 57 years w/o Sh. Mahesh K. Gupta,
Stenographer, Bulletin Section, PGIMER, Chandigarh e mail:
anjugupta [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
55. Ms. Pushpinder Kaur aged 57 years d/o Sh. Charan Singh,
Stenographer, O/o Senior Accounts Officer, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e mail : [email protected]. 160012
(Group-C)
56. Dhiraj aged 52 years s/o Late Sh. N.D. Miglani, Stenographer,
Department Pulmonary Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh - e-mail
: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
57. Paramjit Singh aged 57 years s/o Sh. Niranjan Singh,
Stenographer, Training Branch, PGIMER, Chandigarh e mail:
[email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
58. Harvinder Singh aged 52 years s/o Late S. Saran Singh,
Stenographer, Recruitment Cell, PGIMER, Chandigarh e mail:
[email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
59. Jagdeep Pathania aged 55 years s/o Sh. MS.. Pathania,
Stenographer, Department of Oral Health Sciences, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e-mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
60. Mrs. Lalita Maggon aged 49 years w/o Sh. Subhash Maggon,
Stenographer, Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh
e-mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
61. Gurvinder Singh aged 52 years s/o Sh. Ranjit Singh,
Stenographer, PGIMER, Chandigarh r/o House No.1434/18,
Sector 29-B, Chandigarh e-mail : [email protected].
160030 (Group-C)
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62. Rohit aged 48 years s/o Sh. Jagdish Gupta, Stenographer,
Department of Nephrology, PGIMER, Chandigarh - e-mail:
[email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
63. Parwinder Singh aged 52 years s/o Sh. Nasib Singh,
Stenographer, Department of Radiodiagnosis, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
64. Ms. Anita Rani aged 49 years d/o Sh. Wazir Chand,
Stenographer, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - e-mail : [email protected]. 160012 (Group-
C)
65. Mrs. Jasbir Kaur aged 50 years w/o Sh.Ashwani Kaushal,
Stenographer, Department of Nephrology, PGIMER, Chandigarh
e mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
66. Mrs. Harmesh Kumari Sharma aged 50 years w/o Sh. Balbir
Sharma, Stenographer, Department of Internal medicine,
PGIMER, Chandigarh - [email protected]. 160012
(Group-C)
67. Mrs. Alka aged 47 years w/o Sh. Vikas Madahar, Stenographer,
PGIMER, # 22, Type II, PGI Campus, Sector 12, Chandigarh
[email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
68. Mrs. Rajni Bala aged 48 years w/o Sh. Parveen Sharma,
Stenographer, Department of Neurosurgery, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
69. Mrs. Neelam Sharma aged 55 years w/o Sh. Shashi Kumar
Goswami, Stenographer, Department of Biophysics, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - e-mail: [email protected].
70. Mrs. Saroj Bala aged 48 years w/o Sh. Ramesh Chand,
Stenographer, Department of E.N.T., PGIMER, Chandigarh e-
mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
71. H.S. Rana aged 53 years s/o Sh. Prem Singh Rana,
Stenographer, Examination Cell, PGIMER, Chandigarh e mail:
[email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
72. Anil Kumar aged 56 years s/o Late Sh. Dhani Ram,
Stenographer, Department of Radiodiagnosis, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-
C)
73. Mrs. Paramjit Kaur aged 53 years w/o S. Manjit Singh,
Stenographer, Department of Anaesthesia, PGIMER, Chandigarh
e-mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-C)
74. Ajay Abrol aged 47 years w/o Sh. R.C. Abrol, Stenographer,
Department of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, PGIMER,
Chandigarh - e mail: [email protected]. 160012
(Group-C)
75. Prem Chand Guleria aged 64 years s/o Late Sh. Nakelu Ram,
Principal Private Secretary (Retired), r/o House No.3017, Sector
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46-C, Chandigarh e mail: [email protected]. 160047
(Group-A)
76. Ms. Jaswant Kaur aged 62 years d/o Sh. Kartar Singh, Principal
Private Secretary (Retired) r/o House No.11, Block H, Shivalik
Vihar, Naya Gaon, Distt. Mohali. E-mail:
[email protected]. 133301(Group-A)
77. Mrs. Neelam Kapur aged 62 years w/o Sh. Suneil Kapur,
Principal Private Secretary (Retired) r/o House No. 1299, Sector
37-B, Chandigarh e-mail: [email protected].
160037 (Group-A)
78. Parveen Kumar aged 52 years s/o Late Sh. Varinder Pal,
Principal Private Secretary(took voluntary retirement) r/o House
No.1500, Sector 4, Panchkula e mail : [email protected].
134112 (Group-A)
79. Hakam Singh aged 60 years s/o Sh. Nikka Singh, Principal
Private Secretary (Retired) r/o House No.310, Sector 4, Green
Valley, Kharar, Distt. Mohali - [email protected].
140301 (Group-A)
80. Madan Lal Kanojia aged 76 years s/o Late Sh. Girdhari Lal,
Private Secretary (Retired) r/o House No.3460, Sector 15-D,
Chandigarh - e-mail : [email protected]. 160016
(Group-B)
81. Thakur Dass aged 62 years s/o Late Sh. Moti Ram, Private
Secretary (Retired) r/o H.No.96, Anand Vihar, Peer Baba Road,
Baltana, Distt. Mohali e mail: [email protected].
140604 (Group-B)
82. Mrs. Swarna Devi aged 61 years w/o Sh. Satinderjit Singh,
Private Secretary (Retired) r/o H.No.771-A, G.F. Cassia, OMAXE
City, New Chandigarh, Mullanpur e-mail:
[email protected]. 140901(Group-B)
83. Gurdev Singh aged 61 years s/o Late S.Saroop Singh, Private
Secretary (Retired) r/o House No.777, Sector 11, Garden
Colony, Kharar, Distt. Mohali e-mail:
[email protected]. 140301(Group-B)
84. Brij Mohan Khurana aged 67 years s/o Late Sh. Jagan Nath
Khurana, Stenographer (Retired), r/o House No.711, Sector 17,
Panchkula, e-mail : [email protected].
134109 (Group-C)
85. Ms. Varinder Kaur aged 66 years w/o Late Sh. Jasbir Singh,
Stenographer (Retired) r/o House No. M-24, PGI Enclave, GH
Society No.94, Sector 20, Panchkula e-mail:
[email protected]. 134117 (Group-C)
86. Mrs. Kashmiro Devi w/o Sh. Piara Lal aged 64 years,
Stenographer (Retired) r/o 1997, Govind Nagar, Block 5, Nada
Road, Naya Gaon, Distt. SAS Nagar, Mohali e-mail:
[email protected]. 133301(Group-C)
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87. Ms. Vijay Lakshami Narula aged 64 years w/o Late Sh. Vinod
Narula, Stenographer (Retired) r/o House No.3039, Sector 46-
C, Chandigarh - e-mail : [email protected]. 160047
(Group-C)
88. Rajinder Kumar Sabharwal aged 63 years s/o Late Sh. Ghera
Mal, Stenographer (Retired) r/o B-023/805, Rajdhani Enclave,
Chajju Majra Road, Kharar, Distt. Mohali - e mail:
[email protected]. 140310 (Group-C)
89. Ram Karan aged 62 years s/o Sh.Dev Raj, Stenographer
(Retired) r/o H.No.110, Type 1, PGI Campus, Sector 12,
Chandigarh e mail: [email protected]. 160012 (Group-
C)
90. Mrs. Santosh Kumari Kandal aged 61 years w/o Sh. Govind
Kandal, Stenographer (Retired) r/o House No.1755/2, Sector
39-B, Chandigarh - e-mail: [email protected]. 160036
(Group-C)
91. Ravi Bhushan aged 61 years s/o Late Sh. Suraj Parkash,
Stenographer (Retired) r/o House No.37/2, Sector 41-A,
Chandigarh - e mail: [email protected]. 160036
(Group-C)
92. Ramesh Kumar Anand aged 60 years s/o Late Sh. Ved Parkash,
Stenographer (Retired) r/o House No.513, Sector 38-A,
Chandigarh e-mail : [email protected]. 160036
(Group-C)
93. Ms. Ishwar Kumari aged 60 years w/o Late Sh. Sudhir Bajaj,
Stenographer (Retired), Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER,
Chandigarh e mail: [email protected] (Group-C)
.... Applicants
(BY Advocate: Sh. Rakesh Gupta)
Versus
1. Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi 110011 through its
Secretary e-mail : [email protected].
2. Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research,
Chandigarh through its Director e mail : [email protected]
160012
..Respondents
(BY Advocate: Sh. Sanjay Goyal, Sr. CGSC)
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ORDER
Per: SH. RAMESH SINGH THAKUR MEMBER (J):
1. This Original Application has been filed under Section 19 of the A.T. Act, 1985 seeking the following relief(s):-
(i) The impugned order dated 6.9.2021 (Annexure A-30) passed by respondent No.1 and order dated 27.9.2021 (Annexure A-31) passed by respondent No.2 vide which the pay structure which is payable to the applicants has been illegally declined, may kindly be set aside.
(ii) Appropriate directions may kindly be issued to the respondents to grant the pay scales to the applicants which are being paid to their counterparts at AIIMS, New Delhi in view of the fact that the admittedly the pay scales of the secretarial staff of the PGI is equivalent to the pay scales payable to the secretarial staff of AIIMS, New Delhi since 1974.
2. The facts as enumerated in the Original Application are that to achieve uniformity in the recruitment rules and pay structure of the Secretarial Cadre (Stenographers, Personal Assistants, Private Secretaries, etc.) across the three Institutes of National Importance--AIIMS, New Delhi; PGIMER, Chandigarh; and JIPMER, Pondicherry--the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) constituted a Coordination Committee on 27.04.2012.
3. The matter regarding cadre restructuring of the Secretarial Cadre was placed before this Committee, and its revised NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 10 (OA No. 1191/2021) recommendations were approved by the MoHFW on 03.08.2016. The Ministry also directed PGIMER to obtain approval from its own competent bodies.
4. Accordingly, the matter was placed before PGIMER's Standing Finance Committee, which approved the recommendations in its meeting on 24.01.2017 (Annexure A-22), and later the Governing Body gave its approval on 11.05.2017 (Annexure A-23).
5. On 16.03.2019, PGIMER requested the MoHFW to implement the recommendations of the Coordination Committee for its Secretarial Cadre, noting that although the decision had been taken, no time frame was provided for implementation.
6. However, by letter dated 14.11.2019 (Annexure A-25), the MoHFW informed PGIMER that since the matter of granting Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) with Grade Pay ₹5400 in PB-3 to Private Secretaries in AIIMS was sub judice, PGIMER was advised to defer implementation until the court case was decided.
7. In OA No.3335/2011, filed before the CAT, Principal Bench, New Delhi, applicants (Private Secretaries and Personal Assistants of AIIMS) had claimed parity with their NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 11 (OA No. 1191/2021) counterparts in the Central Secretariat. The CAT granted the relief in its judgment dated 15.07.2015, which was later upheld by the High Court and Supreme Court.
8. On 25.03.2021, MoHFW--after approval from the Union Health Minister--directed AIIMS, New Delhi to implement the CAT judgment, and accordingly, AIIMS issued orders dated 09.04.2021 (Annexure A-26), granting:
o NFSG of ₹8000-275-13500 to Private Secretaries (w.e.f.
03.10.2003), and o Pay Scale of ₹6500-10500 (Level 7 as per 7th CPC) to Personal Assistants (w.e.f. 15.09.2006).
9. Since PGIMER's Secretarial staff were similarly situated, several representations were submitted by employees (e.g., dated 19.04.2021, Annexure A-27) seeking parity with AIIMS.
10. PGIMER also formally requested MoHFW to approve the revised pay structure and implement the Coordination Committee's recommendations, via letters dated 01.02.2021 (Annexure A-29) and 24.05.2021(Annexure A-
28).
NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 12 (OA No. 1191/2021)
11. Despite repeated requests, the MoHFW, vide letter dated 06.09.2021 (Annexure A-30), stated that the Department of Expenditure's approval to implement the CAT order was limited only to the applicants in OA No.3335/2011, and not to be extended to PGIMER.
12. Consequently, PGIMER rejected the applicants' representations through its letter dated 27.09.2021 (Annexure A-31), leading to the filing of the present Original Application before this Hon'ble Tribunal.
13. The respondents have filed a comprehensive written statement and contested the claim made by the applicants in the Original Application.
14. It is clarified that the PGIMER Regulations came into force on 21.04.1967, and not in 1957 as mistakenly stated by the applicants. Further, Regulation 23(2)(d) falls under the PGIMER Regulations, not under the Act. The Standing Finance Committee in its meeting held in August 1974 directed that employees of the Institute were to exercise a final option between adopting the pay scales of AIIMS, New Delhi or those of the Punjab Government.
15. The DOP&T Office Memorandum dated 25.09.2006, which granted upgraded pay scales to Assistants and Steno NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 13 (OA No. 1191/2021) Grade ‗C', was specifically limited to the Central Secretariat Services (CSS) and Central Secretariat Stenographers Services (CSSS), and does not apply to PGIMER employees. Accordingly, no parity can be claimed by the applicants on the basis of this order.
16. The Tribunal's judgment dated 20.09.2013, concerning the revision of pay scales of Assistants and Personal Assistants, was implemented by the respondent after obtaining legal advice from the Law Officer and Standing Counsels. The benefit was granted only to the 42 original petitioners, as per office order dated 11.12.2013. The subsequent Tribunal order dated 04.08.2015 was challenged by the Institute before the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in CWP No. 199 of 2018.
17. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, based on the Department of Expenditure's clarification dated 14.07.2021, confirmed that the order of the Hon'ble CAT dated 15.07.2015 is to be implemented only in respect of the applicants in OA No. 3335/2011. In compliance, AIIMS, New Delhi issued a Memorandum dated 16.08.2021 limiting the benefit accordingly. Thus, the respondents submit that the relief sought by the NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 14 (OA No. 1191/2021) applicant does not merit consideration, and the present OA is liable to be dismissed.
18. The applicants have filed a replication wherein they have submitted that the respondents themselves have admitted that the applicants are entitled to the same benefits as their counterparts and, after consulting the Ministry of Law and Justice as well as the learned Additional Solicitor General, decided not to file an SLP against the High Court's orders. Despite this, the respondents are now contradicting their earlier stance by denying the applicants equal pay scales. It further emphasizes that the review petition filed by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education in a similar matter was dismissed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 11.01.2022, thereby reinforcing that the issue has attained finality. The applicants' counterparts at AIIMS, New Delhi, have already been granted the pay scales as per the competent authorities' orders, and thus the applicants are similarly entitled to the same relief.
19. This Tribunal has considered the rival contentions raised by the learned counsels for the parties and have carefully perused the documents placed on record. NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 15 (OA No. 1191/2021)
20. From the pleadings itself, it is an admitted fact that the employees of the AIIMS, New Delhi, have preferred OA No. 3335/2011 before the Principal Bench of this Tribunal seeking parity with their counterparts in the Central Secretariat. Ultimately, this OA was allowed vide judgement dated 15.07.2015. Thereafter, the matter was placed before the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for implementation of the judgment which was ultimately implemented by the Competent Authority vide order dated 09.04.2021 (Annexure A-26). It is also a further admitted case of the parties that the secretarial staff of respondent PGIMER made several representations to the Competent Authorities which is clear as per Annexure A-22, seeking parity with AIIMS staff.
21. It is further admitted case of the parties that PGIMER has also requested Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to approve the revised pay structure and implement the Coordination Committee's recommendations which is clear as per Annexure A-28 and A-29. Ultimately, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare vie the impugned order dated 06.09.2021 (Annexure A-30) and PGIMER vide letter dated 27.09.2021 have ultimately rejected the claim of the applicants.
NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 16 (OA No. 1191/2021)
22. The respondents filed MA No. 1045 of 2025 for placing on record the decision of the Governing Body (Annexure MA- I) in pursuance to the directions issued by this Tribunal vide order dated 14.02.2024. The said MA is allowed and the annexed document (Annexure A-I) is taken on record. As per MA I filed by the respondent PGIMER, the proceedings of the 30th meeting of Governing Body - PGIMER held on 19.09.1974 (Page 226 of the paper book), the Governing Body has approved item No. 2 whereby the proceedings of the 29th meeting of the Standing Finance Committee held on 5th and 6th August, 1974 have been approved. The same reads as follows:-
―Item No: 17 Delinkage of pay and allowances of employees of the P.G.I. Chandigarh from Union Territory Administration.
There was a good deal of discussion on this issue. The Chairman was strongly of the view that the pay scales and allowances in the P.G.I. Chandigarh, should be the same as existing in the A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi. It was, however, decided that the employees working in the Institute should be asked to exercise option as to whether they wish to enjoy the pay scales and allowances of the Punjab Government or of the A.I.I.M.S. New Delhi. The Chairman, however, pointed out that it may be made clear to the employees that their option for a particular scale would be final.‖
23. Despite these approvals, the revised pay structures have not been implemented for the applicants at PGIMER, even NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 17 (OA No. 1191/2021) though their counterparts at AIIMS, New Delhi have already been granted the upgraded pay scales in compliance with the judgment of the Hon'ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi in OA No. 3335/2011, which was subsequently upheld by the Hon'ble High Court and the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
24. This Tribunal notes that PGIMER's staff is similarly situated to the applicants in the said OA, and the parity in pay scales between AIIMS and PGIMER has historically been acknowledged since 1974 by the PGIMER Governing Body. The denial of benefits to the present applicants solely on the ground that the CAT judgment in OA 3335/2011 applies only to the original petitioners therein is arbitrary and discriminatory, especially when the MoHFW and AIIMS have implemented the judgment institution-wide.
25. Furthermore, there is no legal or administrative justification for denying similarly situated employees at PGIMER the benefit of revised pay scales when the issue has attained judicial finality. Even the Ministry of Law and Justice advised implementation of the CAT order across the board.
NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 18 (OA No. 1191/2021)
26. The Tribunal, therefore, holds that the impugned orders dated 06.09.2021 and 27.09.2021, whereby the applicants' legitimate claim for revised pay scales was declined, are unsustainable in law and deserve to be set aside.
27. Accordingly, the Original Application is allowed. The impugned orders dated 06.09.2021 (Annexure A-30) and 27.09.2021 (Annexure A-31) are hereby quashed. The respondents are directed to extend to the applicants the same revised pay scales and benefits as have been granted to their counterparts at AIIMS, New Delhi, pursuant to the judgment dated 15.07.2015 in OA No. 3335/2011. They are further directed to implement the recommendations of the Coordination Committee as approved by the Governing Body of PGIMER without further delay and grant all consequential benefits, including arrears, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. However, in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, we disallow the claim of the applicants for payment of interest on arrears of pay and allowances payable to them on account o grant of pay scales/Pay Bands with Grade Pay with retrospective effect.
NEERU 2025.07.16 DOUGALL 15:01:02+05'30' 19 (OA No. 1191/2021)
28. There shall be no order so as to costs.
(RASHMI SAXENA SAHNI) (RAMESH SINGH THAKUR)
Member (A) Member (J)
ND*
Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No
Whether Reportable : Yes/No
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