Allowed

Santosh Haridas Solanke and Others v. the State of Maharashtra and Others

Bombay HC10 Mar 2021WP/4497/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

In ten connected writ petitions, the Division Bench awarded equal pay to temporary employees performing the same duties as regular drivers, ordering payment at the minimum of the regular pay scale with effect from the date of petition.

What did the court decide?

Petitioners to be paid wages at the minimum of the regular pay scale with effect from the date of petition.

Santosh Haridas Solanke and Others Vs the… — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Bombay HC (2021)

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(1)

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WP-4495-2021

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
WRIT PETITION NO.4495 OF 2021

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GAJENDRA BANSILAL GIRASE AND OTHERS

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND
OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4473 OF 2021

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RAHUL BRIJLAL KOLI

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4478 OF 2021

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BHAGWANT DAGA WAGH

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4479 OF 2021

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SURESH SHRIPATI LAKAL

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND

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OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4480 OF 2021

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RAJESH DHONDIRAM KAMBLE

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND
OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4481 OF 2021

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SATISH NARSING GAIKWAD

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4482 OF 2021

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(2)

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WP-4495-2021

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SAYYED AKHEEL SAYYAD TALEED
VERSUS
THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4483 OF 2021

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PADMAKAR KONDIBA RAHIRE AND OTHERS

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND
OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4484 OF 2021

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SHIVSHANKAR MOTIRAM WAIPANKAR AND ANOTHER

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4486 OF 2021

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MANOJ KAILASH GAVIT AND OTHERS

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4487 OF 2021

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SANTOSH PRAKASH MORE

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4488 OF 2021

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LAXMAN RAOSAHEB KADAM

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4489 OF 2021

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NARESH PRAKASHRAO DESHMUKH AND ANOTHER

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND
OHTERS

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(3)

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WP-4495-2021

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4490 OF 2021

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SHIVGIR VITTHAL GIRI AND OTHERS
VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4491 OF 2021

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AKASH PIRAJI KAMBLE
VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4492 OF 2021

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GAJANAN RAGHUNATH BARI

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND
OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4493 OF 2021

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TUKARAM RAMRAO PARSE

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND
OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4494 OF 2021

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ARUN UDDHAV MADKE AND OTHERS

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND
OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4496 OF 2021

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BHARAT ANANDA PATIL AND OTHERS

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND
OTHERS

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(4)

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WP-4495-2021

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4497 OF 2021

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SANTOSH HARIDAS SOLANKE AND OTHERS
VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4498 OF 2021

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SANJAY SHIVRAM GHULE AND ANOTHER

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND
OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4499 OF 2021

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GANESH PANDIT BETKAR AND OTHERS

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4500 OF 2021

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GOVIND BHARAT SHINDE AND OTHERS

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4501 OF 2021

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DNYANESHWAR ASARAM DHURVDE

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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AND

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WRIT PETITION NO.4084 OF 2021

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RAJARAM SOPAN PACHPANDE

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

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Mr. Pramod A. Kulkarni, Advocate for the
Petitioners.

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Mr. S. K. Tambe and Mrs. P. V. Diggikar, AGP for

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(5)

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WP-4495-2021

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Respondents-State in respective Writ Petitions.
Mr. M. S. Sonawane, Advocate for Respondent Nos.4
and 5 in WP/4084/2021.

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… CORAM : S. V. GANGAPURWALA & SHRIKANT D. KULKARNI, JJ.

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 DATED : 10th MARCH, 2021.

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PER COURT:-

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1.Learned counsel for the petitioners seeks
leave to amend and claim relief on the basis of
equal pay for equal work. Leave granted.

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2.The petitioners in these petitions seek
relief of regularization and equal wages for equal
work.

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3.As far as the relief of regularization is
concerned, reliance is placed on the order passed
by this Court at Principal Seat in Writ Petition
No.10260/2019 dated 03.09.2019. The Division Bench
at the principal seat, in the said matter, passed
following order:

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"In the light of the fact that the concerned
persons are looking into the grievance of
the petitioners, met and made appropriate
recommendations and no final decision is
taken as yet, this writ petition can be
disposed and is accordingly disposed of by
keeping open all the contentions and to be
raised in the event the grievances of the
petitioners still survive."

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4.As far as grievance of the petitioners of
equal pay for equal work is concerned, the
petitioners placed reliance on the order dated

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(6) WP-4495-2021

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08.12.2020 passed by the Division Bench at
Principal Seat in Writ Petition St. No. 92250/2020
with connected writ petitions and the judgment and
order of this Court at Nagpur Bench in Writ
Petition No. 2247/2014, dated 20th November, 2019.
The Division Bench at the Principal Seat, relying
upon the judgment of Division Bench of Nagpur
Bench, passed the following order on 08.12.2020 in
Writ Petition St. No. 92250/2020 with connected
writ petitions.

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"5. This Court, in the judgment relied on behalf of
the petitioners, in the matter of Dhiraj S.
Wankhede (supra) has held:

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"9. The other relief claimed by the
petitioners is about pay parity with the
regular drivers in Class-III category. In
this regard the law has been settled by the
Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of State of
Punjab and others...Versus...Jagjit Singh and
others , reported in (2017 )1 SCC 148. 10.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that no
artificial parameters can be devised to deny
the fruits of labour when an employee
performs the same work as another employee.
The Hon’ble Apex Court has further held that
no artificial distinction can be made between
such two employees, whereby one is given
higher salary and another is paid lower
salary. Relevant observations of the Hon’ble
Apex Court appearing in paragraph no.58 of
the judgment are reproduced as below :-

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“58. In our considered view, it is fallacious
to determine artificial parameters to deny
fruits of labour. An employee engaged for the
same work cannot be paid less than another
who performs the same duties and
responsibilities. Certainly not, in a welfare
State. Such an action besides being

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(7)

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WP-4495-2021

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demeaning, strikes at the very foundation of
human dignity. Anyone, who is compelled to
work at a lesser wage does not do so
voluntarily. He does so to provide food and
shelter to his family, at the cost of his
self-respect and dignity, at the cost of his
self-worth, and at the cost of his integrity.
For he knows that his dependents would surfer
immensely, if he does not accept the lesser
wage. Any act of paying less wages as
compared to others similarly situate
constitutes an act of exploitative
enslavement, emerging out of a domineering
position. Undoubtedly, the action is
oppressive, suppressive and coercive, as it
compels involuntary subjugation.”

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11. It is clear that the Hon’ble Supreme
Court has held that when one employee
discharges/performs same work as another
employee, there cannot be any distinction
between the two employees so far as the
application of the pay scale to both of them
is concerned. The Hon’ble Apex Court has
further held that all the temporary employees
who are performing

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similar work as the regular employees would
be entitled to draw wages at the minimum of
the pay scale (at the lowest grade, in the
regular pay scale) extended to regular
employees holding the same post. This relief
would also have to be granted to all the
petitioners as there is no dispute that their
work is similar to the work of the regular
drivers.”

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6. The fact that the petitioners in above
referred judgment were contractual employees
is not disputed. We are, therefore, of the
opinion that the issue involved in all these
petitions is covered by view taken by this
Court in its judgment dated 20.11.2019 in
above referred writ petition. Accordingly,
the following order is passed.

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a. The petitioners be paid wages at the

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(8) WP-4495-2021

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minimum of the pay scale at the lowest grade,
in the regular pay scale extended to the
regular employees holding the same post with
effect from the date of the petition.

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b. The respondent No.5 is directed to comply
with this order within six months from today.

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c. No order as to costs."

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5.In view of the consistent view taken at
the Principal Seat and at Nagpur Bench, we follow
the same course and pass following order:

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O R D E R

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(a) The petitioners be paid wages at the minimum of the pay scale at the lowest grade, in the regular pay scale extended to the regular employees holding the same post with effect from the date of the petition.

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(b) The respondent No.5 is directed to comply with this order within six months from today.

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6.With the aforesaid observation and
directions, writ petitions are disposed of. No
costs.

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(SHRIKANT D. KULKARNI) (S. V. GANGAPURWALA) JUDGE JUDGE

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Devendra/March-2021

Santosh Haridas Solanke and Others v. the State of Maharashtra and Others

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Santosh Haridas Solanke and Others v. the State of Maharashtra and Others

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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