20. Though the State claims that the same was superseded by
further circulars, this Court finds that State itself is in the state of
confusion as to whether they want to implement the law laid down
by this Court in Harbans Lal's case (supra) qua other similarly
situated employees or not. Once, the State has taken a conscious
decision on 23rd of February, 2017, State of Punjab ought not have
discriminated against other similarly situated employees.
In the case of municipal employees the issue of the
'qualifying service' as contemplated under the Municipal Pension
Rules cropped up before Division Bench of this Court in the case
of Harjinder Singh vs. State of Punjab, 2004(3) SCT 1. The
same was dealt as under :-