http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 1 of 2  

PETITIONER: INDIAN RAILWAY PERMANENT WAY INSPECTORS ASSOCIATION & ANR.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: THE UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       24/02/1997

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, G.T. NANAVATI

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      This special  leave petition  arises from  the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras, made on 13.9.96 in O.A.  No.1369/93. The  petitioner are  the Permanent  Way Inspectors in  the pay  scale of  Rs.1400-2300/-.  They  had sought the pay scale of Rs.1600-2660/- and when that was not given, they approached the Tribunal which has rejected their claim. Thus, this special leave petition.      It  is   their  contention   that  the   Permanent  Way Inspectors, Gr.III,  Permanent Way Mistries and Direct Track Maintenance Mistries  ar separate cadres and are subordinate to the  Petitioners. Therefore,  they are entitled to higher scales of  pay. It is true that, in an earlier batch of four applications by  similarly situated  employees, the  Central Administrative Tribunal, Bangalore Bench has given direction to grant  the pay  scales claimed by them. After the special leave petition  was disposed  of by  this Court and an order was made  in  a  contempt  petition  by  the  Tribunal,  the Government  considered  the  matter  in  the  light  of  the decision  given  by  the  Central  Administrative  Tribunal, Bangalore. On  consideration thereof,  by proceedings  dated July 12, 1991, the Government have stated as under :      "In   obedience   duty   directions      issued by  the  Honourable  Central      Administrative Tribunal,  Bangalore      Bench in  the order  dated  27.7.89      passed in  application  Nos.2029  &      2039 to  2041/1988, is  advised the      Ministry of Railway (Railway Board)      in consultation  with the  Ministry      of  Finance,  which  is  the  nodal      ministry  for   deciding   and   on      issuance pertaining  to  pay  scale      and  relative   aspect  of  Central      Government employees  have made due      evaluation of  the nature  of  duty      and evaluation  of  the  nature  of      duty  and   responsibility  of  the      PW1’s Grade  III with that of PWM &      DTM  on   such  evaluation  of  all

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 2 of 2  

    aspect it  has been  observed  that      Kholder of  the post  of PWI  Grade      III performs substantially the same      or     similar      duties      and      responsibilities   and    therefore      there  are   no  circumstances   to      revise the  scale  of  pay  of  PWI      Grade  III  to  the  scale  of  pay      higher than  the one  fixed in  the      Railway Services (revised pay) rule      1986  issued   by   the   President      pursuant to the recommendation made      by the IVth Pay Commission."      This was  accepted by  the Bangalore  Tribunal  in  the contempt  proceedings.   When  the  petitioners  raised  the similar  contention,  the  Tribunal  did  not  accept  their contention. It  is seen that the Government after evaluating the  nature  of  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the different sets  of officers  as mentioned in the order, came to the  conclusion that  they perform substantially the same and similar duties and responsibilities and that, therefore, they did  not find  any reason  to revise  the pay scales of Permanent Way  Inspectors, Gr.III to the scale of pay higher than one  fixed by  the Railway  Department in  the  Railway Services (revised  pay) Rules,  1986 as  recommended by  the IVth Pay  Commission. A  representation seems  to have  been made  before   the  Vth  Pay  Commission  and  the  Vth  Pay Commission  has   given  the   report  to   the  Government. Therefore, based  on the submission of the report of the Vth Pay  Commission   and  acceptance  by  the  Government,  the petitioners’ pay  would be looked into. The Tribunal’s order is consistent  with law.  Therefore, it does not warrant any interference.      The special leave petition is dismissed accordingly.