Give benefit of SRO-259 to SOs of JMC: HC

By
Daily Excelsior
-

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 22: High Court today issued direction for providing benefit of SRO-259 of 2007 to the Section Officers of Jammu Municipal Corporation on the analogy of their counterparts in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
The direction was passed in a petition filed by Prem Nath Rakwal and others, who had been posted as Section Officers in the Jammu Municipal Corporation, seeking issuance of a writ directing the respondents to implement SRO 259 of 2007 dated 18.07.2007 in their favour.
According to the petitioners General Administration Department issued Notification dated 18.07.2007 under SRO 259 of 2007 whereby the officials holding substantive posts of Section Officers of all the State Government Departments were placed in the pay scale of Rs 7,450-225-11,500 with effect from 01.01.1996 on notional basis with monetary benefit from 19.02.2003.
However, benefit of the SRO was not given to the Section Officers of the Municipal Corporations. The Section Officers of Municipal Corporation Srinagar approached Srinagar Wing of the High Court and interim order in their favour was passed by the High Court directing respondents to accord consideration to the representation filed by the petitioners in accordance with the Rules.
In compliance and pursuant to the interim order passed by the High Court, the matter was placed before Joint Meeting of General Function Committee and Finance and Planning Committee of SMC on 17.12.2009 and with their approval designated Section Officers of Srinagar Municipal Corporation were placed in the pay scale of Rs 7,450-225-11,500 (pre-revised) with effect from 01.01.1996 notionally with monetary benefit from 01.04.2010.
However, the similarly situated officers in Jammu Municipal Corporation were not given the benefit of the SRO forcing them to file the present writ petition.
After hearing Senior Advocate BS Salathia with Advocate Meenakshi Salathia appearing for the petitioner whereas Senior AAG SS Nanda appearing for the State, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal issued directions to the respondents to provide benefit under SRO-259 of 2007 to the designated Section Officers of Jammu Municipal Corporation at par with the designated Section Officers of Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Justice Kotwal also held the petitioners entitled to all the consequential benefits.

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