The Punjab and Haryana High Court has given a major boost to PUNBUS employees by refusing to overturn an earlier order that directed the Punjab Government to grant them the same pay and allowances as employees of Punjab Roadways.
A Division Bench rejected the state's appeal and upheld the decision of the Single Bench, which had ruled that the principle of "Equal Work, Equal Pay" applies to PUNBUS employees as well.
The Single Bench had held that employees of PUNBUS and Punjab Roadways perform comparable duties and should not be paid differently. It also directed the state government to examine the cases of eligible contractual employees for regularisation in accordance with existing rules.
The Punjab Government had challenged the March ruling instead of implementing it. However, the Division Bench found no merit in the appeal and allowed the earlier judgment to stand.
The court's order means that the employees who had filed petitions will now be entitled to the benefits granted under the judgment. Other PUNBUS employees in similar circumstances can also claim the same relief by submitting representations to the state government, which must examine their cases in line with the court's directions.
PUNBUS staff have been working on contractual appointments for years. Despite carrying out duties similar to those of Punjab Roadways employees, they have been receiving lower wages and fewer service benefits.
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