Unlawful recovery and entitlement to higher grade pay due to illegal abeyance of notification by a single Director without due authority of law.

JUDGMENT

Rajiv Narain Raina, J. (Oral) - CM No. 16704-CWP of 2016

CM is allowed. Documents are taken on record.

CWP No.11364 of 2014 (O&M)

The respondent-Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd. issued notification dated 1st November 2013 (Annex. P-1) in exercise of powers conferred by Clause C of section 79 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 read with Haryana Electricity Reforms Act, 1997 and other enabling powers changing the nomenclature/designation and pay scales of a number of posts including the posts of the Commercial Assistant and Circle Superintendent into Assistant (Field) and Superintendent (Field) in the same pay scale, but with enhanced grade pay i.e. from Rs. 3200/- to Rs. 3600/- and Rs. 4200/- to Rs. 4600/-. It appears that the matter was sent by the Board to the Haryana Bureau of Public Enterprises to get advice from its Finance Department regarding change of nomenclature/designation and allowing pay scale to the Field Cadre ( Ministerial) at par with Head Office Cadre (Ministerial) Employees.

2. The decision on change of designation of certain posts was taken by the Board of Directors of the respondent Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd. One fine day on 18th December, 2013, the Chief Engineer (HR & Admn.), DHBVN, Hisar passed an Office order keeping the notification in abeyance. In the interregnum, it was ordered that the old promotion channel alongwith old pay scales will remain in practice till the finalization of the matter. It was recorded in the office order dated 18th December, 2013 (Annex. P-3) that this advice issues with the approval of the Director/OP, DHBVN, Hisar. It appears that the decision taken by the Board of Directors was kept in abeyance by one Director against a decision taken by the Board of Directors sitting in quorum. Meanwhile, the 1st petitioner was re-designated as Superintendent (Field) while the remaining petitioners were re-designated as Assistant (Field) and they continued to earn their salaries and allowances accordingly. However, the Office order dated 18th December, 2013 interrupted their higher pay and recoveries were made from them in excess of the old grade pay and the new one. The actual reduction in pay was effected in April, 2014 retrospectively.

3. On 13th August, 2015 vide an office order (Annex.R-1 with the short written statement), the Notification dated 1st May, 2013 was withdrawn in toto. This decision was taken by the Board of Directors of DHBNL in its meeting held on 30th June, 2015 against agenda Item No.163.35. That would have been an end of the matter, but the Board of Directors thought fit to re-issue the Notification dated 1st May, 2013 in new form thereby re-designating the posts with some changes which did not affect the posts of Circle Assistant and Circle Superintendent re-designated as Assistant (Field) and Superintendent (Field). The grade pay of Assistant (Field) was increased from Rs. 3600 to Rs. 4000. The past was restored and 2 of 5 the petitioners had been re-designated in terms of the Notification dated 1st May, 2013 read with the Office order dated 20th July, 2016. The Office order dated 20th July, 2016 is re-produced as under :-

"Office Order No.35/SE/Admn.

Dated: 20.7.2016

DHBVN is pleased to modify the nomenclature and pay scales of the following posts of the Field Ministerial Cadre/Clerical Staff as per approval of HBPE, Finance Department to Govt. Of Haryana vide U.O. No.20/4/2016/ Asstt./HBPE(FD) dated 16.05.2016 and U.O.No.23/UHBVN/2009/Acctt./HBPE(FD) dated 13.07.2016 is as under :-