Central Administrative Tribunal - Srinagar
Tariq Ahmad Lone vs Power Development Department on 11 April, 2026
ITEM 1 1 OA 315 OF 2026
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
SRINAGAR BENCH, SRINAGAR
O.A. 315/2026
Date of Order: 11th April, 2026
CORAM
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RITU TAGORE, MEMBER(JUDL.)
1.Tariq Ahmad Lone
Aged about 53 years
S/o Ghulam ud din Lone
R/o Taki Sultan Drangbal, Baramulla-193101
2.Manzoor Ahmad Sofi
Aged about 50 years
S/o Ab. Rashid Sofi
R/o Panzipora Sopore, Baramulla-193201
3.Akhter Rasool Shah
Aged about 54 years
S/o Gh. Rasool Shah
R/o Seer Jagir Sopore, Baramulla-193201
4.Mohammad Ashraf Wani
Aged about 59 years
S/o Gh. Nabi Wani
R/o Khwaja Gilgit Sopore, Baramulla-193201
5.Mohammad Shafi Katoo
Aged about 52 years
S/o Abdul Rahim Katoo
R/o Khojabagh, Baramulla-193201
6.Manjeet Singh Raina
Aged about 57 years
S/o S. Ajpal Singh Raina
R/o Singhpora Kalan, Baramulla-193201
7.Bilal Ahmad, Aged about 46 years
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=
1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480
6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c
Tripathi
b, CN=Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30'
ITEM 1 2 OA 315 OF 2026
S/o Gh. Nabi
R/o Hatishah Sopore, Baramulla-193201
8.Tariq Ahmad Malik
Aged about 36 years
S/o Abdul Ahad Malik
R/o Palhallan Pattan, Baramulla-193121
9. Waseem Qadir Shagoo
Aged about 37 years
S/o Ghulam Qadir Shagoo
R/o Doabgah Achabal Sopore, Rafiabad,
Baramulla-193101
10. Bhopinder Singh, Aged about 55 years
S/o Aya Singh
R/o Singhpora Kalan, Baramulla-193101
11.Harbans Lal, Aged about 47 years
S/o Sh. Uttam Dass
R/o Village Rajpur Kamila district Rajouri-185131
12. Gurmeet Singh
Aged about 53 years
S/o Jaswant Singh
R/o Singhpora Kalan, Baramulla-193101
13.Pawan Preet Singh
Aged about 48 years
S/o Chanan Singh
R/o Tangamulla Dangiwacha, Baramulla-193101
14.Jatinder Singh Khalsa
Aged about 38 years
S/o Mohinder Singh Khalsa
R/o H.No. 413 near Digiana Ashram,
Digiana Jammu180001
15.Sajad Ahmad Pandith
Aged about 43 years
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=
1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480
6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c
Tripathi
b, CN=Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30'
ITEM 1 3 OA 315 OF 2026
S/o Ali Mohammad Pandith
R/o Hamray Pattan, Baramulla-193121
16.Mairaj ud din Tantry
Aged about 43 years
S/o Ab. Ahad Tantry
R/o Palhallan Pattan, Baramulla-193121
17. Irfan Hassan Ganie
Aged about 43 years
S/o Gh. Hassan
R/o Sherpora Bangil Pattan, Baramulla-193121
18.Hilal Ahmad Tantray
Aged about 59 years
S/o Ab. Salam Tantray
R/o Sherapora Pattan, Baramulla-193121
19. Gh. Nabi Lone
Aged about 55 years
S/o Gh. Mohammad Lone
R/o Nihalpora Pattan, Baramulla-193121
20. Javaid Ahmad Tantry
Aged about 40 years
S/o Abdul Ahad Tantry
R/o Palhallan Pattan, Baramulla-193121
21. Naseer Ahmad Malla
Aged about 47 years
S/o Habibullah Malla
R/o Botingoo Sopore, Baramulla-193201
22.Aishaq Hussain Wani
Aged about 40 years
S/o Nazir Ahmad Wani
R/o Reshipora Zainapora, Shopian-192303
23.Shiraz Ahmad Thoker
Aged about 39 years
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=
1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480
6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c
Tripathi
b, CN=Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30'
ITEM 1 4 OA 315 OF 2026
S/o Bashir Ahmad Thoker
R/o Trenz, Shopian-192303
24.Parvaiz Ahmad Naikoo
Aged about 38 years
S/o Ghulam Mohammad Naikoo
R/o Ratnipora, Shopian-192303
25. Hilal Ahmad Bhat
Aged about 41 years
S/o Ghulam Hassan Bhat
R/o Hanjiveera Pattan, Baramulla-193121
26.Mohd Ibrahim Shah
Aged about 57 years
S/o Mohd Afzal Shah
R/o Dodakote, Kupwara-193222
27.Nazim Din Goger
Aged about 51 years
S/o Fakir Mohd Goger
R/o Nagranar, Handwara, Kupwara-193221
28.G.M Sadiq Wani
Aged about 58 years
S/o Mohammad Maqsood Wani
R/o Dolipora Handwara, Kupwara-193221
29. Nisar Ahmad Ganie
Aged about 55 years
S/o Late Haji Mohd Yousuf
R/o Ganie Mohalla "B", Ward No.9, Kupwara-193222
30. Irfan Ahmad Ganaie
Aged about 46 years
S/o Abdul Rashid Ganaie
R/o Village Tapper Warpora Tehsil Pattan district
Baramulla. -193121
31. Suhail Ahmad Ganie
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=
1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480
6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c
Tripathi
b, CN=Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30'
ITEM 1 5 OA 315 OF 2026
Aged about 41 years
S/o Bashir Ahmad Ganie
R/o Molo Shopian-192303
32. Gh. Mohi ud din Sheikh
Aged about 57 years
S/o Ab. Gani Sheikh
R/o Panzgam, Tehsil Awantipora
district Pulwama-19230.
...... Applicants
By Advocate :
Mr. Syed Sajad Geelani
VERSUS
1.Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir through
Principal Secretary to Government, Power Development
Department, J&K, Jammu/Srinagar-190001.
2. Managing Director, Jammu & Kashmir Power
Transmission, Corporation Limited (JKPTCL),
Srinagar/Jammu190001/180006.
3. Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution
Corporation Ltd. (KPDCL), Srinagar-190001.
4. Chief Engineer, Jammu & Kashmir Power
Transmission, Corporation Limited (JKPTCL), Kashmir-
190010.
5. Chief Engineer, Kashmir Power Distribution
Corporation Ltd. (KPDCL), Kashmir-190001.
6. Superintending Engineer (S.E), Kashmir Power
Distribution, Corporation Ltd. (KPDCL), O&M Circle
Sopore-193201.
7. Superintending Engineer (S.E) TLMD JKPTCL
Bemina, Srinagar-190018.
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=
1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480
6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c
Tripathi
b, CN=Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30'
ITEM 1 6 OA 315 OF 2026
8. Executive Engineer, STD, Pulwama-192301.
9. Executive Engineer, ED, Shopian-192303.
10.Executive Engineer, STD, Sopore district
Baramulla193201.
11.Executive Engineer, ED, Baramulla-193101.
12.Executive Engineer, ED, Handwara district
Kupwara193221.
13.Executive Engineer, ED Kupwara-193222.
14.Executive Engineer, TLMD IVth Amargarh, Sopore
district, Baramulla-193201.
......Respondents
By Advocate :-
Mr. Rais Ud Din Ganaie, DAG
O R D E R (FINAL)
JUSTICE RITU TAGORE, MEMBER [JUDL.]
01. The applicants have filed M.A. No. 396/2026 seeking permission to file the present O.A. jointly. For the reasons stated therein, the said M.A. is allowed.
02.Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are Matriculate/ITI qualified, holding National Trade Certificates, having passed matriculation from the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education and ITI in the trade of Electrician from a competent institute. The applicants were appointed on the recommendations of the Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480 6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c Tripathi b, CN=Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30' ITEM 1 7 OA 315 OF 2026 SSRB after due selection as Technician-III, District Cadre Baramulla, in the pay scale of Rs. 3050-4590 in the Power Development Department, on the basis of their ITI trade certificates, vide different appointment orders.
03.Learned counsel further submits that ITI Matriculates with National Trade Certificates were granted the benefit of higher pay scales in terms of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Revised Pay Rules, 1973, notified vide SRO 149 of 1973. The said benefit was to be extended to employees possessing ITI/Matriculate qualifications from the date of acquiring the ITI certificate or from the date of regularization, whichever is later. In the case of the applicants, it is submitted that the benefit is due from the date of their initial appointment, as ITI qualification forms their basic eligibility, which is duly reflected in their service records. A copy of the relevant portion of the service book is annexed as Annexure-A4.
04.It is further submitted that the applicants fall under Category-A of Schedule-C appended to SRO 149 of 1973, Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480 6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c Tripathi b, CN=Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30' ITEM 1 8 OA 315 OF 2026 which governs technical, skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled posts across departments, including the Power Development Department. The academic qualification prescribed for entry under the said category is ITI with matriculation. A copy of the relevant extract of SRO 149 of 1973 is annexed as Annexure-A5.
05.It is also submitted that subsequent revisions of pay scales were carried out by the Government under the J&K Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1982 (SRO 91 dated 22.03.1982), 1987 (SRO 370 dated 17.07.1987), 1992, and 1998, whereby the pay scales of technical and skilled employees were successively revised.
06.Learned counsel submits that the issue regarding grant of benefit under SRO 149 of 1973 to ITI-trained employees stands settled by 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. It is submitted that the said judgment has attained finality, as Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480 6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c Tripathi b, CN=Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30' ITEM 1 9 OA 315 OF 2026 the Special Leave Petition filed by the respondents has been dismissed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dated 04.02.2026.
07.It is further submitted that once the issue stands conclusively settled, the respondents cannot insist upon individual court orders from each employee, and such a stand is arbitrary and contrary to settled principles of service jurisprudence. It is also submitted that the respondents had earlier constituted a committee vide Government Order No. 58-DCP of 2009 dated 06.02.2009, which recommended extension of the benefit of SRO 149 of 1973 to eligible employees, including those left out; however, the same has not been implemented in the case of the applicants.
08.It is further submitted that despite repeated representations, the respondents have neither passed any speaking order nor taken any decision, thereby rendering their inaction arbitrary and violative of the principles of natural justice. The applicants contend that denial of the Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480 6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c Tripathi b, CN=Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30' ITEM 1 10 OA 315 OF 2026 benefit, despite fulfillment of eligibility conditions and in spite of the settled legal position, is unjust and discriminatory. It is also submitted that the applicants have a legitimate expectation to be granted the said benefit, particularly when similarly situated employees have already been extended the same, and denial thereof violates the principle of "equal pay for equal work" under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
09.Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the action of the respondents in denying the benefit is arbitrary, discriminatory, and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, compelling the applicants to approach this Tribunal by way of the present O.A.
10.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 Annexures A-15, A-18, and A-21, as representations and to consider and decide the same in light of the Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480 6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c Tripathi b, CN=Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30' ITEM 1 11 OA 315 OF 2026 judgment passed by the Hon'ble High Court in Provincial Power Employees Union (supra), wherein the respondents were directed to extend the benefit to all similarly situated employees, which stands affirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, as the Special Leave Petition filed by the respondents has been dismissed vide order dated 04.02.2026..
11.Mr. Rais Ud Din Ganaie, learned Dy. A.G., appears for the respondents.
12.In view of the limited prayer made by learned counsel for the applicants, and without commenting on the merits of the case, the respondents are directed to treat the present O.A., along with the representations annexed as Annexures A-15, A-18, and A-21, as representations, and to consider and decide the same in light of the judgment passed by the Hon'ble High Court in Provincial Power Employees Union (supra), wherein the respondents were directed to extend the benefit to all similarly situated employees, which stands affirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, as the Special Leave Petition filed by the respondents has been dismissed vide order dated 04.02.2026 in accordance with law, by examining the Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480 6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c Tripathi b, CN=Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30' ITEM 1 12 OA 315 OF 2026 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.
13.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.
14.The needful shall be done within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.
15.With the above directions, the O.A. stands disposed of. All pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of.
16.There shall be no order as to costs.
17.Registry shall consign the file to the Record Room.
(JUSTICE RITU TAGORE) Member(Judl.) 11-04-2026 DEVENDRA TRIPATHI Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65= 1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b480 6, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27c Tripathi b, CN=Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.04.12 13:11:44+05'30'