Setback for Punjab govt: Punjab & Haryana High Court upholds equal pay relief for PUNBUS employees
PTC Web Desk: In a significant relief for PUNBUS employees, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld an earlier order directing the Punjab Government to extend pay and allowances equivalent to those received by Punjab Roadways employees.
A Division Bench dismissed the Punjab Government's appeal and affirmed the judgment delivered earlier by the Single Bench, which had ruled in favour of the employees by applying the principle of "Equal Work, Equal Pay."
The Single Bench had observed that PUNBUS and Punjab Roadways employees perform similar duties and, therefore, should receive the same salary and service benefits. It had also asked the state government to consider the regularisation of services of eligible PUNBUS employees in accordance with the law.
Instead of implementing the March order, the Punjab Government challenged the verdict before the Division Bench. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court found no reason to interfere with the earlier judgment and upheld it in its entirety.
Under the ruling, employees who had approached the court through petitions will be entitled to the benefits granted under the order. Other similarly placed PUNBUS employees can also seek the same relief by submitting representations to the state government, which will be required to consider their claims in line with the court's directions.
PUNBUS employees are currently engaged on contractual basis and receive significantly lower salaries and benefits than their counterparts in Punjab Roadways despite performing comparable work.
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- PTC NEWS
