IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 04.02.2026 Dr. Nishant Bhatti and others ......Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and others ......Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAMIT KUMAR Present: - Mr. H.S. Saini, Advocate, for the petitioners.

Mr. Swapan Shorey, DAG, Punjab.

Mr. Anil Sharma, Advocate, for respondent No.3.

NAMIT KUMAR, J. (ORAL)

1. The present petition has been filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus, directing the respondents to consider the claim of the petitioners for grant of minimum pay scale along with dearness allowance, payable from time to time of the post of Ayurvedic Medical Officers (AMOs) while extending them the benefit of judgment of this Court in CWP-26367 of 2018 – Pritpal Kaur and others v. State of Punjab and others and CWP-24647 of 2021 – Charanjit Kaur and others v. State of Punjab and others, both decided vide common order dated 25.11.2024 (Annexure P-2), which has been further affirmed by the Division Bench vide judgment/order dated 23.07.2025 passed in LPA-1149 of 2025 – National Health Mission v. Pritpal Kaur and others (Annexure P-3) and further upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 19.09.2025 passed in Special Leave Appeal (C) No.25633 of 2025 (Annexure P-4) and many other similar matters including the judgment dated 27.02.2024 passed in CWP-6784 of 2017 – Rupinder Kaur and others v. State of Punjab and others (Annexure P-5), further affirmed by the Division Bench vide judgment/order dated 21.07.2025 passed in LPA-999 of 2025 – State of Punjab and others v. Rupinder Kaur and others (Annexure P-6), which decision has been duly accepted and implemented by the respondents/department vide speaking order dated 08.05.2025 (Annexure P-7). Further direction has been sought to the respondents to grant the petitioners the benefit of grant of minimum pay scale along with dearness allowance payable from time to time of the post of Ayurvedic Medical Officers (AMOs) of Rs.10,300- 34,800+5400 Grade Pay as per 5^th Punjab Pay Commission applicable with effect from date of their initial joining in service in the year 2014 till 31.12.2015 and minimum pay of the revised pay scale of Rs.47,600- 87120 (Level-14) as per 6^th Punjab Pay Commission applicable w.e.f. 01.01.2016 along with dearness allowance payable from time to time till date, with all consequential benefits and release all the due arrears thereof, as per their respective entitlement from the due date till the date of actual benefits, along with interest on its delayed payment at the rate of 12% per annum from the due date of their entitlement till the date of release of actual payments in their favour, immediately without any further delay.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that for redressal of their grievances, the petitioners have also served legal notice dated 24.12.2025 (Annexure P-8) to the respondents which is still pending consideration. He further submits that at this stage, the petitioners would be satisfied, if appropriate directions are issued to the respondents to consider and decide the said legal notice, by passing a speaking order, in a time bound manner.

3. Notice of motion.

4. Mr. Swapan Shorey, DAG, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of respondents No.1, 2 and 4. Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma, Advocate has put in appearance and accepts notice on behalf of respondent No.3. They have no objection to the innocuous prayer made by learned counsel for the petitioners.

5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the record of the case.

6. Without going into the merits of the case at this stage, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.3 to decide legal notice dated 24.12.2025 (Annexure P-8) submitted by the petitioners expeditiously, by passing a speaking order after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners, preferably within a period of 04 months from the date of receipt o