The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed the State of Punjab to take a call on the grievances of several legal officers who alleged unfair treatment in pay scale and service categorisation. The bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda disposed of a petition filed by Sachin Sharma and others, but not without giving a clear timeline for the government to act.
Background
The petitioners, appointed as Assistant Legal Officers and Legal Officers in the Punjab Bureau of Investigation, had challenged the classification of their posts under Group 'C'. Their counsel, Navdeep Chhabra, argued that the qualifications required an LLB degree with two years bar experience for Assistant Legal Officers and seven years practice for Legal Officers were far higher than what normally justified a Group ‘C' category.
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They pointed out that in nearly every other department of the Punjab government, such posts are categorised as Group ‘B’ and naturally carry a better pay scale.
"The issue is not only about salary but also about recognition of the professional standing that the role demands," counsel stressed during submissions.
Court’s Observations
The Judges noted the grievance and acknowledged that the petitioners intended to file a formal representation before the government. Justice Grewal, while reading out the order, remarked,
"It would be appropriate that the competent authority considers the matter in accordance with law rather than this Court venturing into service classifications at this stage."
The State, represented by Additional Advocate General Rahul Rampal, accepted notice on behalf of the government. No counter-argument on merits was advanced since the Court limited itself to directing a time-bound decision rather than adjudicating the service status outright.
Decision
Disposing of the petition, the bench directed the Principal Secretary (respondent No.1) to decide the representation once filed by the petitioners. The Judges fixed a three-month period for the government to take a decision. Until then, no further relief was granted.
The order concluded crisply:
"In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.1 to consider and decide the representation, as and when preferred by the petitioners, in accordance with law within a period of three months."
With this, the matter now shifts back to the State bureaucracy, where the fate of the petitioners demand for parity with their counterparts in other departments will be sealed.
Case Title: Sachin Sharma and others vs. State of Punjab and others
Case No.: CWP-24136-2025
