High Court

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the State-respondents.

2. The petitioner by means of the present writ petition has prayed for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to pay minimum pay scale.

3. The petitioner is working as daily wager in the forest department. The grievance of the petitioner is that he has not been paid minimum wages @ Rs.18,000/- as per the 7th Pay Commission and in this respect, he has submitted several representations to respondent-authorities, but till date, no action has been taken on the same.

4. A letter dated April 5th, 2023 has already been written by the Principal Chief Forest Conservator U.P. 17 Rana Pratap Mark Lucknow directing the all forest officers to comply with the judgement order passed by this Court in the case of Mohan Swaroop and Another Vs. State of U.P. and Others passed in Writ-A No.11964 of 2018. The relevant portion of the aforesaid letter is reproduced hereinbelow:- " अततिमहत्वपपूरर / समयबद ककायकारलय प्रधकान ममुख्य वन ससंरक्षक और तवभकागकाध्यक्ष, उ०प्र०, लखनऊ पतकासंक-कको०कके ० 1812/6 जजी०जजी०एल०, तदिनकासंक, लखनऊ, अप्रप्रैल, 05 2023 सकेवका मम, 1-समस्ति मण्डलजीय ममुख्य वन ससंरक्षक (वन्य जजीव सतहति), उ०प्र०। (नकाम सके) 2-समस्ति वन ससंरक्षक/क्षकेतजीय तनदिकेशक (वन्य जजीव सतहति), उ०प्र०। (नकाम सके) 3- समस्ति प्रभकागजीय वनकाधधककारजी/प्रभकागजीय तनदिकेशक, (वन्य जजीव सतहति), उ०प्र०। (नकाम सके) तवषय- ररट यकातचिकका ससं०-11964/2018 मकोहन स्वरूप व अन्य बनकाम उ०प्र० रकाज्य व अन्य कके सकाथ सम्बद सभजी यकातचिककाओसं कके सम्बन्ध मम। ससंदिभर-1. उ०प्र० शकासन, पयकारवरर वन एवसं जलवकायमु पररवतिरन अनमुभकाग-3 कका पत ससंख्यका-ररट 170/81-3-2023- 300(12)/2009 तदि० 20.03.2023 (शमुतद पत) व इस पत मम उतल्लिधखति शकासककीय पत ररट 105/81-3-2023- 300(12)/2009 तदि० 22.02.2023 (स्कप्रै नप्रतति ससंलग्नक 1 व 2 ईमकेल पर)

2. उ०प्र० शकासन, पयकारवरर वन एवसं जलवकायमु पररवतिरन अनमुभकाग-3 कका पत ससंख्यका-ररट- 183/81-3-2023- 300(12)/2009 तदि० 03.04.2023 (स्कप्रै नप्रतति ससंलग्नक 3 ईमकेल पर) महकोदिय, तवषयकासंतकति प्रकरर सके सम्बनन्धति उपरकोक्त ससंदितभरति शकासककीय पत तदिनकासंक 20.03.2023 कका प्रभकावजी असंश तनम्न हप्रै- "अवगति करकानका हप्रै तक शकासन कके पत ससंख्यका-ररट-105/81-3-2023-300(12)/2009, तदिनकासंक 22.02.2023 दकारका ररट यकातचिकका ससंख्यका- 11964/2018 मकोहन स्वरूप व अन्य बनकाम उ०प्र० रकाज्य व अन्य सके ससंबसंधधति यकातचिययों कको तदिनकासंक 01.04.2018 सके रू० 18,000/- सशतिर न्यपूनतिम वकेतिन प्रततिमकाह भमुगतिकान तकयके जकानके कके तनदिरश प्रसकाररति तकयके गयके। 2- उक्त पत तदिनकासंक 22.02.2023 मम उतल्लिधखति ररट यकातचिकका ससंख्यका-11964/2018 मकोहन स्वरूप व अन्य बनकाम उ०प्र० रकाज्य व अन्य सके ससंबसंधधति यकातचिओसं कके स्थकान पर ररट यकातचिकका ससंख्यका -11964/2018 मकोहन स्वरूप व अन्य बनकाम उ०प्र० रकाज्य व अन्य कके सकाथ सम्बद सभजी यकातचिककाओसं कके यकातचिओसं कको पढका जकाय। इस शकासनकादिकेश तदिनकासंक 22.02.2023 कको कके वल इस सजीमका तिक ससंशकोधधति मकानका जकायकेगका।" अतितः उक्त ससंदितभरति शकासककीय पत तदिनकासंक 20.03.2023, 22.02.2023 व 03.04.2023 ककी स्कप्रै न प्रतति (ईमकेल पर) ससंलग्न कर उक्तकानमुसकार शकासन दकारका तदियके गयके तनदिरशयों कका अनमुपकालन करतिके हहए कक ति ककायरवकाहजी ककी मसंडलजीय/प्रभकागजीय स्तिर ककी सपूचिनका तदिनकासंक 05.03.2023 तिक प्रभकागजीय वनकाधधककारजी, पजीलजीभजीति टकाइगर ररजवर, पजीलजीभजीति ([email protected]) कको उपलब्ध करकासंए तिथका अतभलकेख हकेतिमु ममुख्य वन ससंरक्षक, मकानव ससंसकाधन तवककास, उ०प्र०, लखनऊ ([email protected]) कको हकाडर ककॉपजी व सकाफ्ट ककापजी मम उपलब्ध करकानका समुतननशचिति करम। वकादि मका० न्यकायकालय मम तदि० 11.04.2023 कको सपूचिजीबद हप्रै। अतितः त्वररति ककायरवकाहजी करनका समुतननशचिति करम। ससंलग्नक - शकासककीय पतकासंक तदि०

20.03.23, तदि०

22.02.2023 व 03.04.2023 ) ( स्कप्रै न प्रतति ईमकेल पर भवदिजीय (ममतिका ससंजजीव दिपूबके) प्रधकान ममुख्य वन ससंरक्षक और तवभकागकाध्यक्ष, उ०प्र०, लखनऊ।"

5. Pursuant to the aforesaid letter, certain orders were passed by the concerned Forest Officers for making payment of Rs.18,000/- per month as per recommendation made by the 7th Pay Commission along with the arrears with effect from 01.04.2018. In this view of the matter, the Court is of the prima facie opinion that the petitioner is entitled for the relief as prayed for in the present petition.

6. Learned Standing Counsel for the respondents submits that no useful purpose would be served in keeping the writ petition pending and appropriate direction may be issued to concerned respondent authority to consider the grievance of the petitioner.

7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and without going into the merits of the case and with the consent of the parties, the writ petition is disposed off with liberty to the petitioner to file a fresh representation before the concerned respondent authority along-with a certified copy of this order raising all his grievances within a period of three weeks from today. In case any such representation is filed by the petitioner, the concerned respondent authority shall consider and decide the same in accordance with law by reasoned and speaking order within a period of two months thereafter.

8. If it is found that petitioner's case is covered by the judgement of Apex Court in the case of Sabha Shankar Dube Vs. Divisional Forest Officer & Others in Civil Appeal Nos.10957-10963 of 2018 and judgement of this Court in the case of Mohan Swaroop and Another Vs. State of U.P. and Others passed in Writ-A No.11964 of 2018, the concern respondent-authority shall pay minimum pay scale of Rs.18,000/- per month to the petitioner as per 7th pay commission in view of the fact that the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest filed an affidavit in Writ-A No.624 of 2023 admitting the claim of the petitioners in the said writ petition for payment of Rs.18,000/- per month as their wages on the basis of minimum pay scale in view of the settled principles of law laid down in the cases of Sabha Shankar Dube (supra) and Mohan Swaroop (supra) and, consequently, paid them minimum pay scale of Rs.18,000/- per month.

9. Since the writ petition has been decided on an ex-parte version without seeking any response from the respondents, thus the passing of the order today may not be construed to an expression that this Court has gone into the merits of the matter and the respondent No.3 shall accord independent consideration strictly in accordance with law and the mandate of law holding the field. Order Date :- 17.2.2025 saqlain

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the State-respondents.

2. The petitioner by means of the present writ petition has prayed for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to pay minimum pay scale.

3. The petitioner is working as daily wager in the forest department. The grievance of the petitioner is that he has not been paid minimum wages @ Rs.18,000/- as per the 7th Pay Commission and in this respect, he has submitted several representations to respondent-authorities, but till date, no action has been taken on the same.

4. A letter dated April 5th, 2023 has already been written by the Principal Chief Forest Conservator U.P. 17 Rana Pratap Mark Lucknow directing the all forest officers to comply with the judgement order passed by this Court in the case of Mohan Swaroop and Another Vs. State of U.P. and Others passed in Writ-A No.11964 of 2018. The relevant portion of the aforesaid letter is reproduced hereinbelow:- " अततिमहत्वपपूरर / समयबद ककायकारलय प्रधकान ममुख्य वन ससंरक्षक और तवभकागकाध्यक्ष, उ०प्र०, लखनऊ पतकासंक-कको०कके ० 1812/6 जजी०जजी०एल०, तदिनकासंक, लखनऊ, अप्रप्रैल, 05 2023 सकेवका मम, 1-समस्ति मण्डलजीय ममुख्य वन ससंरक्षक (वन्य जजीव सतहति), उ०प्र०। (नकाम सके) 2-समस्ति वन ससंरक्षक/क्षकेतजीय तनदिकेशक (वन्य जजीव सतहति), उ०प्र०। (नकाम सके) 3- समस्ति प्रभकागजीय वनकाधधककारजी/प्रभकागजीय तनदिकेशक, (वन्य जजीव सतहति), उ०प्र०। (नकाम सके) तवषय- ररट यकातचिकका ससं०-11964/2018 मकोहन स्वरूप व अन्य बनकाम उ०प्र० रकाज्य व अन्य कके सकाथ सम्बद सभजी यकातचिककाओसं कके सम्बन्ध मम। ससंदिभर-1. उ०प्र० शकासन, पयकारवरर वन एवसं जलवकायमु पररवतिरन अनमुभकाग-3 कका पत ससंख्यका-ररट 170/81-3-2023- 300(12)/2009 तदि० 20.03.2023 (शमुतद पत) व इस पत मम उतल्लिधखति शकासककीय पत ररट 105/81-3-2023- 300(12)/2009 तदि० 22.02.2023 (स्कप्रै नप्रतति ससंलग्नक 1 व 2 ईमकेल पर)

2. उ०प्र० शकासन, पयकारवरर वन एवसं जलवकायमु पररवतिरन अनमुभकाग-3 कका पत ससंख्यका-ररट- 183/81-3-2023- 300(12)/2009 तदि० 03.04.2023 (स्कप्रै नप्रतति ससंलग्नक 3 ईमकेल पर) महकोदिय, तवषयकासंतकति प्रकरर सके सम्बनन्धति उपरकोक्त ससंदितभरति शकासककीय पत तदिनकासंक 20.03.2023 कका प्रभकावजी असंश तनम्न हप्रै- "अवगति करकानका हप्रै तक शकासन कके पत ससंख्यका-ररट-105/81-3-2023-300(12)/2009, तदिनकासंक 22.02.2023 दकारका ररट यकातचिकका ससंख्यका- 11964/2018 मकोहन स्वरूप व अन्य बनकाम उ०प्र० रकाज्य व अन्य सके ससंबसंधधति यकातचिययों कको तदिनकासंक 01.04.2018 सके रू० 18,000/- सशतिर न्यपूनतिम वकेतिन प्रततिमकाह भमुगतिकान तकयके जकानके कके तनदिरश प्रसकाररति तकयके गयके। 2- उक्त पत तदिनकासंक 22.02.2023 मम उतल्लिधखति ररट यकातचिकका ससंख्यका-11964/2018 मकोहन स्वरूप व अन्य बनकाम उ०प्र० रकाज्य व अन्य सके ससंबसंधधति यकातचिओसं कके स्थकान पर ररट यकातचिकका ससंख्यका -11964/2018 मकोहन स्वरूप व अन्य बनकाम उ०प्र० रकाज्य व अन्य कके सकाथ सम्बद सभजी यकातचिककाओसं कके यकातचिओसं कको पढका जकाय। इस शकासनकादिकेश तदिनकासंक 22.02.2023 कको कके वल इस सजीमका तिक ससंशकोधधति मकानका जकायकेगका।" अतितः उक्त ससंदितभरति शकासककीय पत तदिनकासंक 20.03.2023, 22.02.2023 व 03.04.2023 ककी स्कप्रै न प्रतति (ईमकेल पर) ससंलग्न कर उक्तकानमुसकार शकासन दकारका तदियके गयके तनदिरशयों कका अनमुपकालन करतिके हहए कक ति ककायरवकाहजी ककी मसंडलजीय/प्रभकागजीय स्तिर ककी सपूचिनका तदिनकासंक 05.03.2023 तिक प्रभकागजीय वनकाधधककारजी, पजीलजीभजीति टकाइगर ररजवर, पजीलजीभजीति ([email protected]) कको उपलब्ध करकासंए तिथका अतभलकेख हकेतिमु ममुख्य वन ससंरक्षक, मकानव ससंसकाधन तवककास, उ०प्र०, लखनऊ ([email protected]) कको हकाडर ककॉपजी व सकाफ्ट ककापजी मम उपलब्ध करकानका समुतननशचिति करम। वकादि मका० न्यकायकालय मम तदि० 11.04.2023 कको सपूचिजीबद हप्रै। अतितः त्वररति ककायरवकाहजी करनका समुतननशचिति करम। ससंलग्नक - शकासककीय पतकासंक तदि०

20.03.23, तदि०

22.02.2023 व 03.04.2023 ) ( स्कप्रै न प्रतति ईमकेल पर भवदिजीय (ममतिका ससंजजीव दिपूबके) प्रधकान ममुख्य वन ससंरक्षक और तवभकागकाध्यक्ष, उ०प्र०, लखनऊ।"

5. Pursuant to the aforesaid letter, certain orders were passed by the concerned Forest Officers for making payment of Rs.18,000/- per month as per recommendation made by the 7th Pay Commission along with the arrears with effect from 01.04.2018. In this view of the matter, the Court is of the prima facie opinion that the petitioner is entitled for the relief as prayed for in the present petition.

6. Learned Standing Counsel for the respondents submits that no useful purpose would be served in keeping the writ petition pending and appropriate direction may be issued to concerned respondent authority to consider the grievance of the petitioner.

7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and without going into the merits of the case and with the consent of the parties, the writ petition is disposed off with liberty to the petitioner to file a fresh representation before the concerned respondent authority along-with a certified copy of this order raising all his grievances within a period of three weeks from today. In case any such representation is filed by the petitioner, the concerned respondent authority shall consider and decide the same in accordance with law by reasoned and speaking order within a period of two months thereafter.

8. If it is found that petitioner's case is covered by the judgement of Apex Court in the case of Sabha Shankar Dube Vs. Divisional Forest Officer & Others in Civil Appeal Nos.10957-10963 of 2018 and judgement of this Court in the case of Mohan Swaroop and Another Vs. State of U.P. and Others passed in Writ-A No.11964 of 2018, the concern respondent-authority shall pay minimum pay scale of Rs.18,000/- per month to the petitioner as per 7th pay commission in view of the fact that the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest filed an affidavit in Writ-A No.624 of 2023 admitting the claim of the petitioners in the said writ petition for payment of Rs.18,000/- per month as their wages on the basis of minimum pay scale in view of the settled principles of law laid down in the cases of Sabha Shankar Dube (supra) and Mohan Swaroop (supra) and, consequently, paid them minimum pay scale of Rs.18,000/- per month.

9. Since the writ petition has been decided on an ex-parte version without seeking any response from the respondents, thus the passing of the order today may not be construed to an expression that this Court has gone into the merits of the matter and the respondent No.3 shall accord independent consideration strictly in accordance with law and the mandate of law holding the field. Order Date :- 17.2.2025 saqlain