Low Pay Scale Of Legal Officers In Punjab Intelligence Bureau, High Court Asks State To Decide

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab government to decide a representation to be filed challenging the alleged arbitrary and unjustifiably low pay scales being offered to Legal Officers working in the state's Intelligence Bureau (IB).

It was alleged that the Punjab Bureau of Investigation (Civilian Support Staff) Group-B Service Rules, 2021" and "The Punjab Bureau of Investigation (Civilian Support Staff) Group-C Service Rules, 2021" were notified and Legal Officer's pay scale was prescribed as Rs.29,200 and Assistant Legal Officer as Rs.25,500 which is "unreasonable, contrary to Officers' Committee Report & violative of Articles 14, 16 and 39 of the Constitution and has no intelligible differentia."

Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda said, "In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.1 (Punjab Government) to consider and decide the representation, as and when preferred by the petitioners in accordance with law within a period of three months thereafter."

Counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners had been appointed as Assistant Legal Officers and Legal Officers in Punjab Bureau of Investigation in pursuance to the advertisement issued by the respondent-department.

They had been placed in Group 'C' although the essential qualification for appointment as Assistant Legal Officers is Graduation in Law (LLB) alongwith two years of experience at the Bar, while the qualification for the post of Legal Officer is Graduation in Law (LLB) alongwith seven years experience at the Bar, added the counsel.

It was submitted that the post of Assistant Legal Officers and Legal Officers in all other departments of the State Government are placed in Group B' posts and are drawing a higher pay scale.

He further stated that the petitioners would be preferring a representation to the State Government, who may be directed to consider and decide the same expeditiously in accordance with law.

Considering the plea, the Court directed the Government to decide the representation.

Mr. Navdeep Chhabra, Advocate for the petitioners.

Mr. Maninderjit Singh Bedi, Advocate General Punjab. Mr. Rahul Rampal, Addl.A.G.Punjab.

Mr. A.S.Khara, Sr.DAG, Punjab.

Title: Sachin Sharma and others v. State of Punjab and others

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