IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

201 Date of decision: 05.03.2025 Gurdas Ram and others ...Petitioners VERSUS State of Punjab and others ...Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD S. BHARDWAJ Present :- Mr. Harkirat Singh, Advocate for Mr. Vikram Singh, Advocate for the petitioner(s).

Mr. Balwinder Singh, AAG Punjab.

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VINOD S. BHARDWAJ, J. (Oral)

Challenge in the present petition is to the order dated

29.07.1999 whereby pay-scale of the petitioners has been reduced from Rs.810-1440/- to Rs. 770-1350/-.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners contends that the petitioners were working as ‘Beldars’ since 1980 at Ranjit Sagar Dam, Shahpurkandi, the then Tehsil Pathankot, District Gurdaspur. The petitioners were paid the pay-scale, as applicable to the Beldars. He submits that due to certain anomalies in the pay-scales, the 3^rd Pay Commission recommended rationalization of the posts and fresh pay-scales were recommended. Vide communication No.14222-24/6RSDA/96 dated 14.05.1996 (Annexure P-2) the pay-scales of Rs.810-1440/- was given to the petitioners by the Chief Engineer/RSDC, Irrigation Works, Punjab. The operative part thereof reads thus:-

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