Vandana Kasrekar,j. - (1.)Heard. The petitioners have filed the present writ petition challenging the orders dated 08/05/2018 and 18/05/2018 (Annexure-P/6 and P/7) passed by respondent No.3, by which benefit of second time bound pay-scale, which was granted to the petitioners, has been withdrawn and has re-fixed the pay of the petitioners at lower stage.
(2.)The petitioners were initially appointed on the post of Lower Division Clerk vide orders dated 19/01/1984, 09/10/1984, 30/06/1993, 04/09/1990, 10/04/1990, 02/11/1988 and petitioners were promoted as A.G.-II and after completion of 20 years of service, they were granted the benefit of second time bound pay-scale in the year 2009-2010 (Annexure-P/5). However, without issuance any notice or giving any opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, the respondent No.3 has passed the order dated 08/05/2018, by which the benefit of time bound payscale, which was granted to the petitioners, has been withdrawn on the ground that the petitioners do not fulfill the eligibility criteria for promotion on the higher post. Being aggrieved by that order, the petitioners have filed the present writ petition.
(3.)It has been stated that, the impugned order is illegal, arbitrary and is violative of principles of natural justice. That, no notice or any opportunity of hearing was given to the petitioners before passing the impugned order. It is further submitted that the petitioners are working on the post of Assistant Grade-III and Assistant Grade-II and the next promotional post is Assistant Grade-I, for which only five years experience is required, which the petitioners fulfills. That, the benefit of time bound pay-scale was given to the petitioners after screening their cases by the Screening Committee, therefore, the same could not have been withdrawn without issuing any notice to the petitioners.