The Crossbill News Desk
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has delivered a major relief to hundreds of long-serving employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), directing the corporation to grant promotional increments to those who have completed 23 years of regular service.
The verdict, passed by Justice Harpreet Singh Brar while disposing of 128 connected writ petitions, marks a significant win for employees whose promotions and pay benefits had been delayed due to inconsistent departmental interpretations.
Citing long-standing government circulars and earlier judicial precedents, the court ruled that the matter was “no longer open to doubt,” as similar issues had already been settled in previous cases.
The petitions had sought directions to PSPCL to release promotional increments and arrears with 12% interest, relying on government circulars and judgments that supported their claim.
Justice Brar observed that the controversy over the “third promotional increment on completion of 23 years of service” had been repeatedly addressed since the Punjab government’s circulars dated April 23, 1990, July 28, 2000, and November 18, 2011.
The court made special reference to the case of Om Parkash Dua vs Punjab State Electricity Board (2015), where similar claims were upheld. Petitioners’ counsel — including P.K. Goklaney, Brijesh Nandan and Raj Kumar — contended that PSPCL had misinterpreted clause (iii) of the 2000 circular, which stated that employees “should not have been placed in a scale higher than the next post.” They pointed to a 2007 clarification from the Punjab government confirming that even those placed in higher scales were still entitled to the increment after 23 years of service.
Backing this argument, the bench noted that PSPCL’s own Board of Directors had, in a 1999 resolution, endorsed eligibility for an “advance promotional increment” for employees who had already received 9/16-year promotional scales.
Justice Brar criticised PSPCL for its inconsistency, observing that the corporation had “been blowing hot and cold” by frequently altering and then reinstating eligibility criteria. The order recorded that all earlier restrictions on advance promotional increments had finally been withdrawn from October 1, 2018.
The court ultimately held that employees, even if drawing higher pay scales, are entitled to the 23-year promotional increment. PSPCL, represented by advocates Amrit Singh Kang and Sehaj Bir Singh, had opposed the petitions on the grounds of pay hierarchy rules, but the bench dismissed those objections.
The petitions, spanning over a decade of litigation, involved more than 50 lawyers appearing for various parties, including the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in related cases.
The verdict, passed by Justice Harpreet Singh Brar while disposing of 128 connected writ petitions, marks a significant win for employees whose promotions and pay benefits had been delayed due to inconsistent departmental interpretations.
Citing long-standing government circulars and earlier judicial precedents, the court ruled that the matter was “no longer open to doubt,” as similar issues had already been settled in previous cases.
The petitions had sought directions to PSPCL to release promotional increments and arrears with 12% interest, relying on government circulars and judgments that supported their claim.
Justice Brar observed that the controversy over the “third promotional increment on completion of 23 years of service” had been repeatedly addressed since the Punjab government’s circulars dated April 23, 1990, July 28, 2000, and November 18, 2011.
The court made special reference to the case of Om Parkash Dua vs Punjab State Electricity Board (2015), where similar claims were upheld. Petitioners’ counsel — including P.K. Goklaney, Brijesh Nandan and Raj Kumar — contended that PSPCL had misinterpreted clause (iii) of the 2000 circular, which stated that employees “should not have been placed in a scale higher than the next post.” They pointed to a 2007 clarification from the Punjab government confirming that even those placed in higher scales were still entitled to the increment after 23 years of service.
Backing this argument, the bench noted that PSPCL’s own Board of Directors had, in a 1999 resolution, endorsed eligibility for an “advance promotional increment” for employees who had already received 9/16-year promotional scales.
Justice Brar criticised PSPCL for its inconsistency, observing that the corporation had “been blowing hot and cold” by frequently altering and then reinstating eligibility criteria. The order recorded that all earlier restrictions on advance promotional increments had finally been withdrawn from October 1, 2018.
The court ultimately held that employees, even if drawing higher pay scales, are entitled to the 23-year promotional increment. PSPCL, represented by advocates Amrit Singh Kang and Sehaj Bir Singh, had opposed the petitions on the grounds of pay hierarchy rules, but the bench dismissed those objections.
The petitions, spanning over a decade of litigation, involved more than 50 lawyers appearing for various parties, including the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in related cases.
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