Rameshwar Sharma & Ors vs State Of Jharkhand & Ors on 27 July, 2011

                IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
                                W.P. (S) No.2261 of 2011
             Rameshwar Sharma & Ors.                              ......Petitioners. 
                                          ­Versus­
             The State of Jharkhand & Ors.                        .......Respondents.
                                            ­­­­­­
            CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NARENDRA NATH TIWARI
                                             ­­­­­­
             For the Petitioners :           Mr. A. K. Sahani, Advocate.  
             For the State           :       J.C. to Sr. S.C.I  
                                             ­­­­­­
02/27.07.2011

: In   this   writ   petition,   the   petitioners   have   prayed   for   a 
direction on the respondents to pay the arrears of salary from the 
date   of   their   termination   i.e.   20th  September,   1999   till 
reinstatement. 

It has been stated that the petitioners were   engaged as 
Drivers on work charge basis in Subarnrekha Multipurpose Project 
on different dates. Subsequently, their services were terminated. 
The termination order was challenged through the association in 
CWJC No.3194 of 1999(R). The order of termination was quashed 
and the said writ application was allowed. The drivers, who were 
terminated,   were   reinstated   by   the   order   of   the   department 
dated   8th  January,   2004.   In   spite   of   their   reinstatement,   the 
petitioners   were   not   paid   their   salary   from   the   date   of   their 
termination till reinstatement. The salary of other similarly situated 
persons   was   also   denied.   Out   of   them   some   persons   had 
approached   this   Court   in   W.P.   (S)   no.6484   of   2006.   This   Court 
disposed of the said writ petition, directing  the respondents  to 
consider the petitioners’ claim and pass appropriate order. The 
concerned authority considered their claim and passed order for 
payment of salary to them for the said period.

The   grievance   of   the   petitioners   is   that   though   they   are 
also   similarly   situated,   in   spite   of   their   repeated   requests   and 
representations, the arrears of salary for the said period have not 
been paid to them. 

Learned   J.C.   to   Sr.   S.C.I,   appearing   on   behalf   of   the 
respondents,   submitted   that   the   Secretary,   Water   Resources 
Department,   Government   of   Jharkhand,   is   the   competent 
authority to consider the petitioners’ claim/grievance and if any 
representation  is  still  pending  or  if they file fresh representation, 
­2­
  the   same   shall   be   considered   and   appropriate   order   shall   be 
passed. 

Considering   the   said   submissions,   this   writ   petition   is 
disposed   of,   giving   liberty   to   the   petitioners   to   file   fresh 
representation,   along   with   a   copy   of   this   order,   before   the 
Secretary,   Water   Resources   Department,   Government   of 
Jharkhand­Respondent   no.2.   On   receipt   of   the   representation, 
the   said   respondent   shall   consider   the   same,   taking   into 
consideration the order passed by the Department in the matter 
of   similarly   situated   persons,   and   pass   appropriate   order,   in 
accordance   with   law,   within   two   months   from   the   date   of 
receipt of the representation.  

If  the  petitioners   are  found  entitled  to  get   the  arrears   of 
salary, as claimed by them, the admitted amount shall be paid 
to them within six weeks thereafter. 

 (Narendra Nath Tiwari, J.)
Sanjay/