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PETITIONER: STATE FISHERY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION,WEST BENGAL & ANR.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: STATE OF WEST BENGAL & ANR.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       21/03/1997

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, K.T. THOMAS

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      This special  leave petition  arises from  the order of the Administrative  Tribunal,  Calcutta,  made  on  December 12,1996 in  case No.  TA-  268/96.  the  petitioners  had  a dialogue with  the Government  of West  Bengal to revise the service  conditions   of  the   employees  in   the  Fishery Department ,  namely, Assistant   Fishery  officers, Fishery Extension Officers  etc. w.e.f  April 1,  1961. There was an agreement reached  between the  Government and  the Union of the first   petitioner.  Subsequently  the  Government  have issued orders  giving all  the benefits  except the monetary benefits from  April 1, 1961 to April 1, 1981 Prospectively. The petitioners  have filed  the petition  in  the  Tribunal seeking direction  for   payment of  arrears on  the premise that  it  was  tripaartite  agreement  and,  therefore,  the Government  is   bound  by  the  undertaking  given  in  the agreement. The  Tribunal has  perused the  record and stated thus,      "It appears  from the  documents on      record that  the Finance Department      was  a   party  not   a   to   such      decisions. Nor  does it appear that      subsequently  concurrence   of  the      Finance Department  was obtained in      this connection.  Besides , it does      not appear  that the  decision were      translated   in   to   any   formal      Government order.  Be  that  as  it      may, it  will not  proper to  grant      such financial  benefits in  favour      of  Assistant   Fishery   Officers,      Fishery  Extension  officers,  etc.      with  effect  from  1.4.1961  while      while   other    actions   of   the      Government  where  to  take  effect      only from 1.4.1981"      In view of  the above finding and in view of the policy decision taken by the Government, it cannot be said that the decision of the Government is arbitrary. No direction can be given to  the Government  to  grant  the  monetary  benefits

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contrary to  its policy  which falls within the realm of the executive policy decision.      The special leave petition is accordingly dismissed.