Central Administrative Tribunal orders new pay scale to deceased phone operator’s kin

Chennai

The petition was filed by his wife S Muthulakshmi seeking the tribunal to direct the government to extend all consequential benefits in light of fifth and six pay commission recommendations. Muthulaksmi, in her petition, prayed the tribunal to direct the government to grant pay scale of Rs 3,200 - 4,900 for Solaimuthu for his work as Telephone Operator Grade-II and the pay scale of Rs 5,000-8,000 (V Pay Commission) when he was working as Telephone Operator Grade I. Similarly, to fix his pay scale in the pay band of Rs 9,300-34,800 after the sixth pay commission in 2006 with all attendant benefits like arrears of pay and allowances and pension benefits.

She submitted that similarly placed employees had approached various benches of CAT seeking higher pay scale and got a verdict in their favour. However, her representations before the government, citing various CAT orders, were rejected, the petition read.

The Central government contended that the Civilian Switch Board Operators in various organisations under the Ministry of Defence cannot be considered at par with their counterparts in General Staff Branch on the ground that their modes of recruitment are different and there is no parity. “There is no general direction applicable to all the telephone operators and hence the CAT order was implemented to that specific employees,” read the counter.

Recording the submissions, Judicial member P Madhavan and T Jacob said, “The government is directed to consider the case of Solaimuthu in light of tribunal’s similar order and extend the benefit of fixation of the higher pay scale to him as it was granted to similar employees with all consequential benefits. This exercise shall be completed within six months.”