Dimapur, May 2 (MExN): Informing that the matter relating to the effective date of implementation of the Central pay Scale for government employees of Nagaland, which has now been handed over to the Guwahati High Court, the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association (CANSSEA), expressed hope that the case would be decided in favor of the employees.
The CANSSEA informing that the case has been handed over to the said court with direction to consider the desirability of disposing of the matter expeditiously within 6-weeks time from the date of receipt from the Supreme Court of India, the employees’ body highlighted facts relating to the case.
According to a release issued by Dr K Solo, president, an agreement was arrived between the Government of Nagaland and the confederation that Central Pay Scales would be adopted with effect from June 1, 1998, following which the Advocate General of Nagaland committed before the Guwahati High Court that the said agreement shall be implemented in letter and spirit. Accordingly the case was disposed of on July 28, 1999. The CANSSEA also observed that the Supreme Court in dealing with the case of Andhra Pradesh delivered a judgment on December 5 2002 that the “government cannot act contrary to its promise” has a direct relevance to the case of the confederation itself. In this case, the impugned notification of the State government giving effect from April 1, 2000 on implementation of the central pay scales in so far as they shifted the date of grant of revised scales from June 1 1998 to April 1 2000 is arbitrary and violated of rules, the CANSSEA stood.
It stated that the state government by notification dated October 8, 1999 not only went back on the agreement dated October 5, 1998 but also undermined the judicial verdict and totally ignored the rights of the employees who retired during the interregnum. The earlier date of June 1 1998 itself had entailed the hardship and sacrifice on the part of the employees, considering the fact that the pay scales were due from 1 January 1996 and complying to the government’s request the employees gave up their right to claim such pay scales arrears for two and half years while entering into agreement in October, the CANSSEA maintained. “Therefore, implementation of central pay scales with effect from June 1 1998 is a well-settled case based on agreement as well as honorable court judgment and that the judicial decree cannot be overridden by legislation. In the present case the judgment of the divisional bench of the Guwahati High Court dated July 28 1999 has become final” the confederation stated.
Taking these facts the CANSSEA hope the case would be in favor of the employees as the case is at its terminal stage.
.jpg)
