scale of 400-1100 to the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, copy of the order of the Finance Minister on the basis of which the pay scale was issued, could have been obtained and filed in Court. The Government having failed to do so, when persisted by a direction to the Finance Department, to produce the file, a privilege was sought to be claimed. Legally speaking, no privilege to the order passed by the Minister could be claimed. Privilege could only be claimed regarding office notings to protect the Officers of the State from giving independent opinion on the matters involving the State. The intention of the Secretaries of the Department of Finance and Animal Husbandry to keep the order of the Finance Minister aforesaid in concealment from the Court is not at all commendable. The way in which the writ petition and the Review Application has been prosecuted on behalf of the State of Punjab, it has put the petitioners not only to great inconvenience but to great expenses. In the order dated June 2, 1989, it was specifically observed that if the Government decides to equate the pay scales of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons to that of the Medical Officers, the Government would allow same pay scale for both the posts. Inspite of the aforesaid observation, the State did not allow the same pay scale to the petitioners inspite of the order of the Finance Minister as reproduced above existed on the file of the Finance Department.”
