JUDGMENT :

HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J.

1. The present civil writ petition has been filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing the impugned order dated Nil (Annexure P-6) rejecting the decision of Board of Directors of Haryana State Cooperative Supply & Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) dated 30.01.1997 (Annexure P-1) removing the anomaly of pay scales in respect to the post held by the petitioners i.e. Field Inspector granting them the pay scale of Rs.1400-2600 w.e.f. 01.01.1986 earlier duly approved by the Registrar himself. Further, for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to implement the decision of Board of Directors of HAFED dated 30.01.1997 (Annexure P-1) duly approved by the Registrar granting the pay scale of Rs.1400-2600 w.e.f. 01.01.1986 to the post held by the petitioners i.e. Field Inspector with all consequential benefits along with interest @ 18% per annum.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners inter alia contends that the petitioners were appointed as Field Inspectors during the year 1975 to 1982. Their posts were known as Inspector in Food Supplies Department, Haryana and the duties and responsibilities of Field Inspector (Junior) in the respondent- Federation and Inspector in Food Supplies Department are same. Prior to 01.04.1979, Field Inspectors (Junior) in the Federation-respondent No.1 and Inspectors in Food Supply Department was getting the same pay scale i.e. Rs.140-300/-. The pay scale of the Inspectors, Food Supplies Department came to be revised from time to time. While revising the pay scale of the petitioners, it was not brought at par with Inspectors of the Food Supplies Department which created anomalies in the pay scale of both sets of employees performing identical duties. The Board of Directors of respondent No.1-Federation considered the issue in detail in its 224^th meeting held on 20.01.1997 and passed a resolution revising the pay scales. The relevant extracts of Meeting dated 20.10.1997 of Board of Directors are reproduced as below:-

“It is a fact that scale of F.I. (Jr.) of Hafed and of Inspector Food & Supplies, Haryana prior to the revision of pay scales w.e.f. 1.4.79 was Rs. 140-6-170-/8-10-300. The scale of F.I. (Sr.) and AFSO was at par i.e. Rs. 225-500 but on revision w.e.f. 1.4.79 the scale of F.I. (Sr.) in Hafed was revised to Rs. par the 525-1050 whereas in the case of AFSO of Food Department, the scale was enhanced to Rs. 700-1250 resulting into anomaly. The scale of AFSO was further enhanced to Rs. 1640-2900 whereas the scale of F.I. (Sr.) in hafed kept at Rs. 1400-2600 w.e.f. 1.1.86 leading to further anomaly in this cadre.

In order to overcome the problems of stagnation, it is proposed that the posts held by various officials in different categories as below may be upgraded in the following scales:

By upgrading the above mentioned posts, the financial implication to the tune of Rs.25,000/- per month (approximately) would accrue.

With regard to the change of designation of Field Inspectors, it is proposed that the F.I. (Jr) may be designated as Inspector Grade-II whereas F.I. (Sr.) as Inspector. Similarly Store Keepers and Godown Keeper who are at par with the F.I. (Jr.) may also be designated as Inspector Grade-II because in the proposed Common Cadre Rules, 1997 it has been provided that for further promotions for the post of Manager 'C' Grade Field Inspector (Sr.), the Field Inspector (Jr), or store Keeper/Godown Keeper will be eligible on the basis of their inter-se-seniority.

The matter is placed before the Board of Directors for their consideration and approval.

Agenda Item No. 5 Consideration of request of Field Inspectors (Jr.) and Field Inspectors (Sr.) and other field staff regarding improvement in their pay scale, promotions etc.

The proposal was approved but it was decided that the matter relating to the upgradation of posts of Store-Keepers/Godown Keepers/Acctt. S