Dr.P.Sayed Koya vs Union Of India Represented By The ... on 6 November, 2008
(3) SCC 649
and Chief General Manager (Telecom) N.E. Telecom Circle
Vs. Rajendra Ch. Battacharjee JT 1995 (1) SC 440. The
Tribunal rightly held that Special (Duty) Allowance is granted
to the employees posted in certain regions because they are
exposed to geographical, linguistic, cultural and social
hardships. The Tribunal was also right in holding that persons
belonging to Union Territory of Lakshadweep when posted in
Lakshadweep itself, are not put to the same stress, strain and
physical hardship that an outsider would experience when he
is posted to Lakshadweep. The petitioner, a native of Androth
Island has been promoted to the post of Crane Operator and
posted at Kalpeni. The contention of the petitioner that the
classification is discriminatory and in violation of Articles 14
and 16 has no legal basis. Ext. P13 relied on by the petitioner
is not applicable to the case on hand as that is made
applicable to the employees of the Home Department and
grant of that allowance stands on a different footing.