NO coercive steps shall be taken to reduce their salary on the basis of S.O 194 : DB
JKUT (Srinagar), August-10-2021-( JNF):- Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Comprising Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Dhar, directed respondents that no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioners so as to reduce their salary or to effect any recovery from the petitioners on the basis of S.O 194 dated 17.06.2020.
The Writ Petition is directed against the order dated 2nd August, 2021 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Jammu Bench, Jammu. The Tribunal by the said order has declined to consider the application for grant of interim stay to the petitioners as it proposed to decide the Original Application itself on the next date fixed.
The controversy allegedly involved before the Tribunal is that whether the petitioners who were appointed under the Prime Minister’s Special Package for Kashmiri Migrants notified vide SRO 412 of 2009 dated 30.12.2009 could be brought within the purview of S.O 194 of 2020 dated 17.06.2020 whereby amendments were made to SRO 202 of 2015.
It is submitted that the SRO 202 of 2015 was not applicable to the petitioners and, therefore, S.O 194 of 2020 cannot be applied.
DB observed that since the question involved before the Central Administrative Tribunal is of importance, it is better that the controversy is resolved finally rather than keeping it pending and creating confusion for time to come. Therefore, the Tribunal has not erred in fixing an early date in getting the Original Application decided.
DB further observed that the submission of counsel for the petitioners is that taking advantage of the pendency of the Original Application and the fact that no interim order has been passed therein, the respondents are reducing their salary by applying S.O 194 of 2020.
DB observed that in view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, to balance the interest of both the parties, disposed of the petition with the direction that the Tribunal will endeavour to decide the Original Application of the petitioners on the date already fixed i.e., 20.09.2021 and in case for any reason, it is not possible for it to decide the Original Application on the said date, at least the application for interim direction shall be considered and decided on merits and till 20th September, 2021, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioners so as to reduce their salary or to effect any recovery from the petitioners on the basis of S.O 194 dated 17.06.2020.
DB further made it clear that court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the controversy i.e., pending before the Tribunal and it will be open for the Tribunal to decide the matter in accordance with law without being influenced by the observation made hereinabove. JNF