Disposed¶62

Bhupendra Kumar Singh v. State of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh HC24 Mar 2026WPS/6614/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Risk allowance; hardship allowance; additional pay; arrears with 18% interest; firemen; fire and emergency services; Chhattisgarh; policy framing; Home Department; Finance Department; 180-day direction; writ petition disposed; WPS No. 6614 of 2021; High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur; Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey.

What did the court decide?

Direction to the Home and the Finance Department, Government of Chhattisgarh to take decision at the earliest preferably within a period of 180 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order. ¶62

Bhupendra Kumar Singh Vs State of Chhattisgarh — Chhattisgarh HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the Home and the Finance Department, Government of Chhattisgarh to take decision at the earliest preferably within a period of 180 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners, working in the fire services, are entitled to the benefit of risk allowance and additional pay along with arrears with 18% interest, or in the alternative holiday as granted to other employees of the fire department of the corporation. +1 more

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Court's answer

Taking into consideration the subsequent development (initiation of the policy-framing process and the proposal pending before the Finance Department), the Court disposed of the petition rather than adjudicating the claim for risk allowance and additional pay.

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Ratio / Principle

The Home Department and the Finance Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, are directed to take a decision at the earliest, preferably within a period of 180 days from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ petition (WPS No. 6614 of 2021, High Court of Chhattisgarh, Rakesh Mohan Pandey, J., decided 25/03/2026) by twenty petitioners employed in the fire services of Chhattisgarh (firemen and drivers), seeking a direction for grant of risk allowance and additional pay with arrears carrying 18% interest, or in the alternative holiday parity with other employees of the fire department of the corporation. During pendency, the Court had directed the State to consider framing a policy of hardship allowance for firemen deployed in emergency services; a proposal was thereafter forwarded by the Home Department to the Finance Department and remained pending consideration. Taking into account this subsequent development, the Court disposed of the petition, directing the Home Department and the Finance Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, to take a decision at the earliest, preferably within 180 days from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

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Digitally signed by RAMESH KUMAR VATTI Date: 2026.04.01 12:18:34 +0530

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2026:CGHC:14294

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NAFR

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HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 6614 of 2021

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1 - Bhupendra Kumar Singh S/o Shri Dhirsai Singh Aged About 29 Years Working As Fireman, Resident Of Sanjay Nagar, Raipur, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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2 - Dhanat Kumar Shrey S/o Geera Ram Shrey Aged About 35 Years Working As Fireman, Resident Of Halwai Khapri, Post- Khanda, District- Baloda Bazar- Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh

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3 - Manoj Kumar Patel S/o Rajaram Patel Aged About 31 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Parsada, Post Sonsari, District- Janjgir Champa, Chhattisgarh

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4 - Mahesh Kumar Chandrakar S/o Ganesh Ram Chandrakar Aged About 37 Years Working As Fireman, R/o New Laxmi Nagar, Dawda Colony, Raipur, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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5 - Ganeshram Devdas S/o Shyam Ratan Devdas Aged About 60 Years Working As Driver, R/o New Changora, Bhata, Mahadeve Nagar, Raipur, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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6 - Yashwant Kumar S/o Late Bhushan Das Aged About 28 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Hanoda, Durg, District- Durg, Chhattisgarh 7 - Ajay Singh Thakur S/o Late Shri G. S. Thakur Aged About 36 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Qr. No. 21/C.C.S.I., Sec-1, Bhilai, District- Durg, Chhattisgarh

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8 - Deepak Kumar Kaushik S/o Ankalaha Aged About 43 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Village Umarpoti, Post Purai, Thana Utai, Durg, District- Durg, Chhattisgarh

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9 - Raj Kishor Pal S/o Sevaram Pal Aged About 41 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Chourasia Colony, Mathpurena Raipur, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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10 - Indrajeet Sahu S/o Sakha Ram Sahu Aged About 37 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Bhatagao, Raipur, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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11 - Harish Kumar Pal S/o Shankar Lal Pal Aged About 38 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Shitla Para, Arang, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh 12 - Shiv Kumar Khunte S/o Late Shri Nankoo Ram Khunte Aged About 36 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Bhatagao, Raipur, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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13 - Manoj Kumar Meshram S/o P. R. Meshram Aged About 41 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Village Lal Bahadur Nagar, Post- Chichola, DistrictRajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh

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14 - Parampreet Singh Kondal S/o Late Trilochan Singh Aged About 34 Years Working As Fireman, R/o D-55, Sai Simran City Mathpurena, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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15 - Venu Madhavan S/o A.K.N. Rao Aged About 35 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Soundur, Nagari, District Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh

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16 - Rasbihari Jatwar S/o Moharsay Aged About 46 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Pipardula, Post Bhinodi, District Baloda Bazar- Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh

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17 - Khuman Singh Verma S/o Khedan Ram Verma Aged About 38 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Chinwari, Post Sirri Tahsil Kurud, District Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh

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18 - Puran Lal Sendre S/o Late Dhaniya Sendre Aged About 66 Years Retired Driver, R/o Amanaka Nagar Nigam Colony, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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19 - Amit Kumar Thakur S/o Rikhiram Thakur Aged About 38 Years Working As Fireman, R/o Village Morid, Post Dundera, Tahsil Patan, District Durg, Chhattisgarh

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20 - Rajesh Kumar Gayakwad S/o Shri Lakhanlal Gayakwad Aged About 44 Years R/o Village Umarpoti, Post Purai, Tahsil And District Durg, Chhattisgarh

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... Petitioners

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Versus

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1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Department Of Urban Administration And Development, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Mantralaya New Raipur, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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2 - The Secretary Department Of Home, Mahanadi Bhawan, Mantralaya Atal Nagar, New Raipur District Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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3 - The Secretary Department Of Finance, Mahanadi Bhawan, Mantralaya Atal Nagar, New Raipur District Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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4 - Director General Fire And Emergency Services, (S.D.R.F.) State Head Quarter Fire Department, Atal Nagar, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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5 - Director Urban Administration And Development Department, Raipur, Distrisct Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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6 - Commissioner Municipal Corporation Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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... Respondents

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For Petitioners	:	Mr. Shashi Kumar Kushwaha and Mr. G.P. Mathur, Advocates
For Respondents No. 1 to 5	:	Mr. Keshav Prasad Gupta, Government Advocate
For Respondent No. 6	:	Ms. Harneet Kaur, Advocate holding the brief of Mr. Sourabh Sharma, Advocate

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Hon’ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board

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25/03/2026

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The petitioners have filed this petition seeking the following relief(s):-

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“ 10.(i) That, this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct respondent authorities to grant of benefit of risk allowance and additional pay to the petitioners along with arrears with 18% interest or in alternative they may be granted holiday as it is granted to the other employees of fire department of corporation, in the interest of justice.

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10.(ii) Any other relief which may be suitable in the facts and circumstances of the case, may also be granted.”

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On 30.01.2025 and on 20.03.2025, this Court passed the following orders:-

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“ 30.01.2025:

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Mr. Vinod Kumar Sharma, counsel for the petitioners.

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Mr. S.P. Kale, Additional Advocate General & Mr. Abhishek Singh, Panel Lawyer for the State.

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Ms. Harneet Kaur, Advocate on behalf of Mr. Sourabh Sharma, counsel for respondent No. 6.

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Learned Addl. Advocate General is directed to seek instruction and file an affidavit of any senior officer which will be prepared in consultation with Secretary, Home, Secretary, Urban Department as well as Director General of Police, Fire & Emergency Services with regard to providing hardship allowance to the fireman who are being deployed in emergency services as their lives are in risk and they are being involved in the other operation also. The affidavit should be filed supported with orders/circulars in this regard on or before the next date of hearing.

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List this case on 21^st February, 2025 .

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A copy of this order be sent to the Director General of Police, Fire & Emergency Services for compliance.”

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“ 20.03.2025:

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Mr. Vinod Kumar Sharma, Advocate for the petitioners.

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Mr. Aman Tamboli, PL for the State.

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Mr. Sourabh Sharma with Ms. Harneet Kaur, Advocate for respondent No. 6.

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Affidavit of Mr. Him Shikhar Gupta, Secretary, Department of Home Affairs has been filed before this Court wherein it has been stated that they have initiated process for getting information from other State.

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This process was started after intervention of the Court only. In the note sheet, it has been mentioned that they have received some information from the State of Andhra Pradesh and information of other State in respect of hardship allowance to firemen is not yet received.

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Considering this aspect of the matter, it is directed the respondents shall communicate to their counter parts regarding framing of policy with regard to grant of hardship allowances to the firemen who are being deployed in emergency services as their lives are at risk. This Court hope and trust that by the next date of hearing, process of framing of policy should reach to its logical end and proposed policy should be placed on record.

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List this case on 29.04.2025.

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Copy of the order be communicated to the Secretary, Department of Finance, Raipur for framing comprehensive policy in favour of firemen whose life is always at risk.”

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Mr. Keshav Prasad Gupta, learned Government Advocate appearing for the State/respondents No. 1 to 5 would submit that an affidavit has been filed by the Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, Department of Home Affairs wherein it is stated that in pursuant to the orders passed on 30.01.2025 and 20.03.2025, the department has initiated proceedings and forwarded a proposal to Finance Department, Government of Chhattisgarh and same is pending consideration.

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Heard.

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Taking into consideration the subsequent development, this petition is disposed of with a direction to the Home and the Finance Department, Government of Chhattisgarh to take decision at the earliest preferably within a period of 180 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

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Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) Judge

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vatti

Bhupendra Kumar Singh v. State of Chhattisgarh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Bhupendra Kumar Singh v. State of Chhattisgarh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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