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PETITIONER: BABU LAL

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: NEW DELHI MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE

DATE OF JUDGMENT13/07/1994

BENCH: KULDIP SINGH (J) BENCH: KULDIP SINGH (J) AGRAWAL, S.C. (J)

CITATION:  1994 AIR 2214            1994 SCC  Supl.  (2) 633  JT 1994 (4)   298        1994 SCALE  (3)163

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT: The Judgment of the Court was delivered by KULDIP  SINGH,  J.- This petition under Article  32  of  the Constitution  of  India is sequel to the judgments  of  this Court  in  R.D.  Gupta v. Lt.  Governor,  Delhi  Admn.1  and Narendra Kumar v. Dharam Dutt2. The petition is on behalf of the Storm Water Drains Beldars (SWD Beldars) and Storm Water Drains  Mates (SWD Mates) who are Class IV employees in  the service  of the New Delhi Municipal Committee  (NDMC).   The short  question  for our consideration is  whether  the  SWD Beldars  and  SWD  Mates  are entitled  to  the  pay  scales recommended   by   the  Shiv  Shanker  Committee   (the   SS Committee)?  The SS Committee pay scales are claimed by  the petitioners  on  the ground that the said  pay  scales  have already  been granted to Class IV employees of the NDMC  who are  similarly  situated, doing the  same/similar  work  and belong to the same/similar cadres. 2.   It  is not necessary to go into the factual details  as the same have been covered in R.D. Gupta case1 and  Narendra Kumar  case2.   The technical staff of  the  Delhi  Electric Supply  Undertaking (DESU) were not satisfied with  the  pay scales  granted  as a result of the recommendations  of  the Third  Pay Commission and they demanded higher  pay  scales. The  Government, therefore, constituted the SS Committee  to go  into  the  question of revision of  pay  scales  of  the technical staff of DESU.  The higher pay scales  recommended by  the SS Committee were allowed to the technical staff  of DESU.   Later  on,  the DESU considered the  demand  of  its ministerial  staff and revised their pay scales also on  the parity  of the technical staff.  Thereafter, the  NDMC  also allowed  the benefit of pay scales as recommended by the  SS Committee   to   its  ministerial  staff  working   in   the electricity  wing.  The ministerial staff working  in  other departments of NDMC challenged the action of the NDMC in not extending the SS Committee pay scales to them and this Court in  R.D.  Gupta case’ held that all  the  ministerial  staff

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working  in  the  NDMC  are  entitled  to  get  pay   scales recommended by the SS Committee.  It was held that the grant of  SS  Committee pay scales only to the  ministerial  staff working  in  the  electricity  wing  could  not  be  legally sustained as it suffered from the vice of discrimination. 3.   The  NDMC  in its meeting dated  9-6-1988  resolved  as under:               "The  Committee as per the advice of  the  Law               Department  and  the  opinion  given  by   our               counsel, Justice V.D. Mishra on 26-2-1988  had               decided that following categories of employees               who  constitute 496 posts created by the  NDMC               while   forming  the  Electricity  Cell   vide               resolution  passed  on  27-6-1978  should   be               extended the benefits               1.    Office Superintendent               2.    HA/Accountant               3.    Personal Assistant               4.    Senior Clerk               1    (1987)  4 SCC 505: 1987  SCC  (L&S)  470:               (1987) 5 ATC 65: (1987) 3 SCR 808                2    1993  SUPP (3) SCC 205: 1993  SCC  (L&S)                             977: (1993) 25 ATC 376               635               5.    Stenographers               6.    Junior Clerk               7.    Assistant Storekeepers               8.    Adrema Operators               9.    Assistant Adrema Operators               10.   Assistant Record Keepers               11.   Daftry               12.   Peon               13.   Bill Collector               14.   Sorter               15.   Ferro Printer               16.   Chowkidar               17.   Sewerman               18.   Sweeper               Accordingly,  the Committee passed  orders  to               extend  the benefits vide orders  dated  26-2-               1988  to  all  the  above  categories.   These               employees have already been paid a part of the               arrears  and salaries under S.S.  scale.   The               CAP  while  checking  the  pay  fixation  have               required a formal resolution of the  Committee               for  processing the cases.  Accordingly,  this               is  noted to the Committee for information  in               continuation  of Resolution No. 26 dated  9-2-               1988."               Similarly,  by another order  dated  27-7-1988               the  benefit  of SS Committee pay  scales  was               extended to the following employees :               "Under  the orders of the Administrator  dated               18-7-1988  the following allied categories  of               sweepers  are  extended the  benefit  of  S.S.               scales  in  terms of Resolution No.  26  dated               9-2-1988  read  with Resolution No.  52  dated               9-6-1988  as  they form the  common  cadre  of               sweepers.               1.  Lorry Beldars               2.    Dumping Ground Beldars               3.    Bhistis               4.    Rat Catchers               5.    Verandha Beldars               6.    Hawker Raid Van Beldars

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             7.    Sweepers-cum-Chowkidars               8.    Dog Catchers               Sd/-               Assistant Secretary (Health)"  It  is  further  stated  by the  petitioners  that  the  SS Committee  pay scales have also been extended to  SWD  Lorry Beldars, Silt Lorry Beldars, Filth Cartmen, Rubbish Cartmen, Dumping Ground Mates and Sewermen-cum-Beldars. 4.   This  Court in Narendra Kumar case2 directed the  grant of  SS  Committee  pay scales  to  Gunmen/Dog  Shooters  and Duplicating  Machine Operators on the following reasoning  : (SCC pp. 212-13, para 11)               "In   Writ  Petition  No.  5  of   1990,   the               petitioners  are  Class IV employees  of  NDMC               holding posts of Duplicating Machine Operators               and               636               Gunmen/Dog  Shooters.   Needless to  say  that               NDMC has allowed the benefit of SS Committee’s               scales to Rat Catchers and Dog Catchers,  vide               order dated 22-7-1978 as already quoted  above               and we find no valid justification for denying               such benefit to Duplicating Machine  Operators               and  Gunmen/Dog Shooters.  When  such  benefit               has  been  allowed  to Rat  Catchers  and  Dog               Catchers, there is no essential difference  in               the job work done by Gunmen/Dog Shooters.  The               Duplicating  Machine Operators are also  Class               IV employees and such post is transferable and               interchangeable from other Class IV  employees               of the NDMC who have already been granted  the               benefit of SSC’s pay scales, vide order  dated               9-6-1988 already mentioned above." 5.   It  is no doubt correct that the SS Committee  did  not make any recommendation in respect of Class IV employees  of the NDMC.  The SS Committee made its recommendations only in respect  of the technical staff of DESU but the NDMC on  its own  extended  the SS Committee pay scales not only  to  the ministerial staff but also to Class IV employees working  in its electricity wing.  Classifying the employees working  in the  electricity  wing of the NDMC  for  favoured  treatment became  the  cause for the judgment of this  Court  in  R.D. Gupta  case1.   This Court in Narendra Kumar  case2  further held  that  the NDMC cannot pick and  choose  employees  for granting the benefit of SS Committee pay scales and  denying the same to others who are similarly situated and belong  to same/similar cadres. 6.   The precise question for our consideration,  therefore, is  whether  the petitioners before us belong  to  the  same class to which the SS Committee pay scales have already been granted by the NDMC. 7.   A  ’Beldar’ is essentially a Safai  Karamchari.   There are  beldars under different nomenclature in the service  of the  NDMC.  Beldars, Sewermen and Sweepers by whatever  name they  be called are part of the sanitary staff of the  NDMC. They  all  belong to Class IV service and there  can  be  no justification  in  classifying  some  of  them  for   better treatment.  The petitioners have pleaded in paras 4, 5 and 6 of the writ petition as under :               "4.  That  the  duty  of  SWD  Beldars  is  to               scavenge  and desalt the dirt and  filth  from               the covered storm water drains constructed and               maintained   by   Respondent  1   within   its               territorial jurisdiction.  It is the  function               of  the SWD Beldars and SWD Mates to keep  the

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             said  drains functional throughout  the  year.               Apart  from SWD Beldars and the Mates  another               category  of employees who are connected  with               the  work  of  keeping the  said  storm  water               drains  clean  and functional  are  SWD  Lorry               Beldars.   At  this stage it  is  relevant  to               state  that similar work is also performed  by               Sewermen, Sewermates and SWD Lorry Beldars  as               they  are  also  connected with  the  work  of               scavenging  the dirt and filth from sewers  so               as to keep the sewerage system functional  and               to  collect  the  dirt and  filth  from  large               dustbins known as Dalaos so as to protect  the               drainage   and  sewerage  system  from   being               choked.   In  this context it is  relevant  to               state that whereas the work of SWD Beldars and               SWD Mates is similar to the work done by above               said other categories, the SWD Beldars and SWD               Mates are treated as a different class for the               purposes  of  pay  scales  and  other  service               conditions.               5.    It  is stated that the SWD  Beldars  and               SWD  Mates  were treated as belonging  to  the               category of Sweepers till 1978.  It is further               stated that               637                nature of the work of the SWD Beldars and SWD               Mates  is  similar to the  work  of  employees               employed  as Sweepers and in other  categories               such  as  SWD  Lorry  Beldars,  Rubbish  Lorry               Beldars,   Sewermen   and   Sewermates.    The               categories   connected   with  the   work   of               maintaining  cleanliness  of  roads,  sewerage               system  and storm water drains were  known  as               ’Sweeper   and  Allied  Categories’.   It   is               further  stated  that till  1978,  there  were               interchangeability   of   posts-between    the               Beldars   and   the  Sweepers   working   with               Respondent  1. A true copy of an Office  Order               issued  by  Respondent 1  on  4-3-1978,  which               supports the above averment of the petitioners               is filed herewith as Annexure 1.               6.    It  is stated that the SWD  Beldars  and               SWD  Mates are subject to  the  administrative               control of the Health Department of Respondent               1.  The Health Department of Respondent  1  is               the  appointing and disciplinary authority  of               sweepers  and allied categories including  SWD               Beldars  and  SWD Mates.  Prior to  1978,  SWD               Beldars  and SWD Mates were appointed  in  the               same  manner in which the employees  belonging               to  sweepers and allied categories used to  be               appointed.  All these categories belonged to a               unified cadre.  The promotional avenues of SWD               Beldars  and  SWD Mates are the  same  as  are               available to the sweepers and any other allied               categories.   It is relevant to state at  this               stage  that SWD Beldars are promoted as  Mates               on the basis of their seniority.  From amongst               the SWD Beldars and the Mates, the  promotions               are   effected  to  the  posts  of   Assistant               Sanitary  Inspector on the basis of 10  years’               service and qualifying a departmental  written               test  conducted by Respondent 1. The  sweepers               and   other   allied   categories   are   also

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             considered  along  with SWD  Beldars  and  SWD               Mates  for such promotions.  From amongst  the               Assistant Sanitary Inspectors, the  promotions               are   effected  to  the  posts   of   Sanitary               Inspectors  and  then  to the  post  of  Chief               Sanitary  Inspectors.  From amongst the  Chief               Sanitary Inspectors, the promotion is effected               to  the  post  of Dy.   Sanitary  Officer  and               finally  as a Sanitary Officer.  It is  stated               that the channel of promotion for the  beldars               and the sweepers have been the same.......               8.    In  the counter-affidavit on  behalf  of               the NDMC filed by its Secretary the  averments               in paras 4, 5 and 6 of the writ petition  have               been replied as under :               "With  reference to paragraph Nos. 3 to  7  of               the petition it is submitted that storm  water               drains  beldar hereinafter called SWD  Beldar,               are  in the pay scales of Rs 750-940;  whereas               SWD  Mates  are in pay scale of  Rs  800-1150,               which  is  the promotional post.   At  present               there  are about 235 regular SWD  beldars  and               about 19 are working as SWD Mates.  It is  not               disputed   that   even   a   person    holding               supervisory post has to perform the duties  of               subordinate  staff, if  necessary.   Initially               SWD Beldars were regularised on the completion               of   5  seasons  whereas  the   sweepers   are               appointed  by direct recruitment and  as  such               form  a  distinct and different  category.   A               true and correct copy of said Recruitment Rule               and  Promotional Avenues Annex.  III  (Colly.)               is annexed as Annexure III (Colly.).               In 1978 there were certain vacancies available               in  the category of sweepers and some  of  the               SWD  Beldars  offered themselves  to  work  as               sweepers   due  to  the  convenience  of   the               employee concerned.  At that time there was no               dispute-  as to the pay scale of the  sweepers               and  SWD Beldars or their avenue of  promotion               and   therefore  SWD  Beldars  were   absorbed               against  the permanent vacancies available  in               the sweepers category.  This               638               kind of internal arrangement of transfer  from               SWD Beldars to the sweepers category does  not               make the post interchangeable as alleged or at               all." 9.   It  seems to be the admitted position that the work  of SWD  Beldars and SWD Mates is almost similar to the work  of Sewermen/Sewermates  and SWD Lorry Beldars.  They are  Class IV   employees   and   have   same   status   and    similar responsibilities.   The NDMC has formed a group  of  various categories  of Class IV employees called  Safai  Karamcharis for  the  purpose  of promotion to  the  post  of  Assistant Sanitary Inspector.  The SWD Beldars and SWD Mates are  also included  in  the  said  group  along  with  the   sewermen, sewermates and other.  In this view of the matter the action of  the NDMC in denying the SS Committee pay scales  to  the petitioners is arbitrary, discriminatory and is violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. 10.  We,  therefore, allow the writ petition and direct  the NDMC and the Delhi Administration to grant the benefit of SS Committee  pay scales to the Storm Water Drains Beldars  and Storm Water Drains Mates with effect from 1-4-1994.  Keeping

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in view the facts and circumstances of this case, we are not inclined  to  grant the SS Committee pay scales to  the  SWD Beldars and SWD Mates from back date.  No costs. ORDER