Bhagyabati Behera v. State Of Odisha
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
W.P.(C) No.10571 of 2022 Bhagyabati Behera ....
Petitioner Mr. A.K. Das, Advocate -versusState of Odisha and others ....
Opposite Parties Mr. K.K. Nayak, A.S.C.
CORAM:
JUSTICE A.K. MOHAPATRA Order No.
ORDER
13.05.2022 01.
1.
This matter is taken up through Hybrid Arrangement (Virtual /Physical Mode).
2.
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned counsel for the State. Perused the record.
3.
The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioner with the following prayer :- "It is, therefore, prayed that your Lordships may be pleased to direct the State/O.Ps. for sanction and disbursement of grade pay in 3rd RACP in favour of late husband of the petitioner @ Rs.4800/- from 28.06.2013 to 18.6.2014 and Grade pay @ 5400/- from 19.6.2014 till the death of husband of the petitioner on 8.9.2020 in view of the Panchayati Raj Dept.
Notification No.9652 dt.19.6.2014 under Anx.4 where grade pay of Dist. Panchayat Officer has been upgraded from Rs.4800/- to Rs.5400/- w.e.f. 19.6.2014 and the settled principle of law in Bihari Lal case and accordingly, the pay be fixed and family pension be sanctioned and paid in favour of the petitioner. And pass any other order/orders as deemed fit and proper in the ends of justice, equity and good
// 2 // conscience."
4.
Learned counsel for the petitioner states that similar question had come up for consideration before a Division Bench of this Court in W.P.(C) No. 2831 of 2016 disposed of on 27.06.2016 (State of Odisha and another vrs. Bihari Lal and others), which was arising out of an order dated 12.03.2015 passed by the State Administrative Tribunal in O.A. No. 520 of 2014 and this Court quashed the order dated 21.12.2013 (wrongly mentioned as 21.12.2012 in the judgment) and held that the applicants are eligible to get financial upgradation in the posts of GPEO/PA, ABDO/SDPO and DPO on completion of 10/20/30 years of service in the post of VLW under the RACP scheme. Therefore, the petitioner's case may be considered in the light of the said judgment. 5.
It is also submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that the Opposite Parties be directed to consider the case of the Petitioner as per the settled law decided in the case of State of Odisha vrs. Biharilal Barik decided by this Court in W.P.(C) No.20358 of 2017 decided on 23.08.2017.
6.
Considering the limited nature of prayer of the Petitioner and considering the fact that the Principal Secretary to Government, Panchayati Raj & D.W. Department, Bhubaneswar (Opposite Party No.1) shall do well to consider the case of the Petitioner within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. The decision so taken shall be communicated to the Petitioner within a period of two weeks from the date of such decision. The case of the Petitioner shall be considered by the Opposite Party No.1 in the light of the judgment in the case of State of Odisha-vrs.-Biharilal Barik decided by this Court in SLP
// 3 // No.20358 of 2017 decided on 23.08.2017. The writ petition stands disposed of directing the Competent Authority to dispose of the case of the petitioner by undertaking the entire exercise within a period of two months from the date of production of certified copy of this order.
Urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application.
( A.K. Mohapatra ) Judge Jagabandhu