Gulwant Singh Sathi v. State Of Punjab And Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : September 01, 2025 GULWANT SINGH SATHI -PETITIONER V/S STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS -RESPONDENTS

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI

Present:

Petitioner in person.

Mr. Sahil R. Bakshi, A.A.G., Punjab.

*** KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (ORAL) 1.

On 13.08.2025, this Court had passed the following order:- "1. The co-ordinate bench of this Court, vide order dated 22.01.2025, passed the hereinafter extracted order:- "The petitioner has approached this Court for seeking revision of the grade-pay as well as re-fixation of pension. The matter came up for hearing on 07.11.2024. Learned State counsel had sought time to resolve the issue in terms of the judgment passed by this Court in CWP25733-2012 titled as 'A.P. Sharma and others Vs. State of Punjab and others' as well as the subsequent judgment dated 30.09.2016 in CWP-2866-2014 titled as 'Karanvir Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab and others'. On resumed hearing, learned State counsel contends that the Government has already forwarded the matter for re-computation of gradepay as well as retiral benefits to the Finance Department and that the same is likely to take nearly 04 weeks time before a final decision is taken on the pension and other financial benefits admissible to the petitioner are recomputed.

Respondents are directed to take a final decision on the pending claim of the petitioner about revision of the

grade-pay as well as the recomputation of the admissible financial benefits to the petitioner within a period of 06 weeks from today. In the event the needful is not done, the respondents shall be liable to pay a litigation cost of Rs.50,000/- to the petitioner, which is to be recovered from the officer/official causing delay.

To come up for further consideration on 02.04.2025."

2. On the subsequent date of hearing, i.e., 02.04.2025, it was informed by the learned State Counsel that the petitioner's case had been forwarded to the Accountant General on dated 24.01.2025, however, certain objections/queries were raised therein, which were subsequently addressed, and the case was resubmitted to the Accountant General for consideration.

3. Learned State counsel contends that the requisite steps which were required to be taken by the department concerned, has already been taken, and now the office of Accountant General has to take final call.

4. On dated 13.05.2025, leaned State Counsel made a request for an adjournment to have complete instructions, and to assist this court by informing the outcome of the fresh exercise, so undertaken by the department concerned. Today, again a request for an adjournment has been made by the learned State Counsel.

5. The co-ordinate bench of this Court, in its interim order dated 22.01.2025, had clearly observed that, in case the needful is not done, the State shall be liable to pay litigation costs of ₹ 50,000/- to the petitioner. Despite that, no information regarding the final outcome has been provided to this Court. Therefore, this Court is left with no other option, but to impose an additional litigation cost of ₹ 50,000/- upon the State, payable to the petitioner.

6. Accordingly, respondents No. 2 and 3, are directed to file a specific affidavit in compliance with the directions issued vide orders dated 22.01.2025 and 02.04.2025, clearly informing the outcome of the exercise undertaken by the concerned department.

7. Adjourned to 01.09.2025.

8. To be shown in the urgent list.

9. It is made clear that no further request for an adjournment shall be entertained on the next date of hearing, on behalf of either of the parties."

2.

Today, the learned State counsel has filed the specific affidavit of Mr. Vijay Kumar Chopra, Chief Engineer (Headquarters-1), Punjab, PWD(B&R), Mini Secretariat, Patiala, which is taken on record. A copy of the affidavit is supplied also to the petitioner. 3.

What emerges from perusal of the affidavit is that, a detailed speaking order regarding entitlement of the petitioner for re-fixation of his pay was passed on 18.02.2025, and the same is appended as Annexure A1 to the affidavit. As per the speaking order, the petitioner has been found entitled to only Special Grade Pay of ₹ 150/-. 4.

Moreover, the learned State counsel, on instructions imparted to him by Ms. Babita Goyal, Joint Controller, has assured this Court that litigation cost of ₹ 50,000/- shall be paid to the petitioner, within seven days from today, by way of a demand draft drawn in his favour. 5.

In view of the above, no further direction is required to be passed, and the instant writ petition is closed. However, liberty is reserved to the petitioner to, in case, he has any grievance against the order (supra), take apposite legal recourse. Moreover, it is clarified that non-compliance to the assurance (supra) shall invite strict action against the respondent(s) concerned. The instant writ petition is disposed of accordingly. 6.

Pending application(s) also stands disposed of accordingly. (KULDEEP TIWARI) September 01, 2025 JUDGE devinder Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes/No Whether Reportable :

Yes/No