Holding

The Board's power to prescribe different pay scales based on educational qualification is valid and not discriminatory; Article 14 does not apply, and the appeal is dismissed.

Summary

Sohan Singh Sodhi, a lineman appointed in 1964 and later promoted to Junior Engineer without holding an engineering diploma, challenged the Punjab State Electricity Board's policy of granting higher pay scales and promotions to diploma‑holding linemen. He argued that the Board's refusal to extend the same scale of pay to him, despite a junior non‑diploma colleague being promoted, violated Article 14 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court examined whether the Board could differentiate pay and promotion criteria on the basis of educational qualifications and whether such differentiation amounted to prohibited discrimination. Relying on earlier judgments, the Court held that the Board's power to frame regulations and issue executive orders under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 permits it to set separate scales for diploma and non‑diploma employees, and that Article 14 does not apply to such classification. The Court also noted that parity in pay cannot be claimed when the qualifications differ, and that the appellant could not derive any benefit from the junior's promotion. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed.

Issues considered

Whether the Punjab State Electricity Board can differentiate promotion and pay scales between diploma‑holder and non‑diploma linemen.
Whether such differentiation violates Article 14 of the Constitution.
Whether the appellant is entitled to parity in pay based on the promotion of a junior colleague.
Whether the Board has the authority to issue circulars/executive orders in the absence of specific regulations.

Legislation cited

Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948s. 12, s. 15, s. 79(c)

Subjects

promotiondiscriminationArticle 14service lawpay scaleeducational qualificationelectricity boardcivil serviceparityseniority

Judgment

A SOHAN SINGH SODHI
v.
PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, PATIALA

MAY9, 2007

B [S.B. SINHA AND MARKANDEY KATJU, JJ.]

Service Law:

Promotion-Promotion of Lineman to Line Superintendent-
C Discrimination in promotion between Engineering diploma holders linemen
and non diploma holder linemen having same seniority list-Trial Court held
that appellant could not have been discriminated against-Reversed by the
High Court following the ruling of larger Bench of the Supreme Court in a
similar matter-Affirmed by High Court-On appeal, Held: Parity in the pay
D cannot be claimed when the educational qualification is different-
Jurisdiction of the respondent-Board to lay down different scale of pay on
the basis of educational qualification per se is not discrimination-Article
14 of the Constitution has no application in such a case-First Appellate
Court rightly dismissed the claims of the incumbent and denied benefit to him
by following the decision of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court
E over-ruling the decision of a Division Bench where junior to the incumbent
was given such benefit-Constitution of India, 1950-Article 14-State
Electricity Act, I 948-ss. 12 and I 5.

Appellant was appointed as a lineman and promoted to the post of Junior
F Engineer though he was not holding a diploma in Engineering. One Ravinder
Kumar who was also a non-diploma holder filed a suit questioning the
purported discrimination in promotion of Lineman to Line Superintendent
between diploma holder linemen vis-a-vis non diploma holder linemen. In that
case, ultimately the matter came up before this Court wherein this Court
observed that it has rightly been held by the High Court that the promotion of
G defendants who were junior to the plaintiff from Line Man to the Line
Superintendent is wholly bad and discriminatory and directed that the
petitioner be deemed to have been promoted to the post of Line Superintendent
from the date the said defendants had been promoted. Later, in a similar matter,
a three-Judges Bench of this Court in P. Murugesan & Ors. v. State ofTamil

H 250
SOHAN SINGH SODHI v. PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, PATIALA 25 J

Nadu & Ors., (1993) 2 SCC 340 wherein Punjab State Electricity Board & A
Anr. Etc. v. Ravinder Kumar Sharma & Ors., was specially overruled relying
inter alia on a decision of a Constitution Bench of this Court in State ofJammu
and Kashmir v. Triloki Nath Khosa and Ors., [1974] 1 SCC 19. ln the present
case, the appellant also claimed the same benefit. The Trial Court held that
as both the plaintiff-appellant and Ravinder Kumar Sharma were non-diploma B
holders and belongs to the same cadre, the appellant could not have been
discriminated against. The First Appellate Court, however, relied on the
decision of three Judges Bench of this Court in P. Murugesan & Ors. v. State
of Tamil Nadu & Ors., set aside the judgment of Trial Court. Appeal filed
against the order of the first appellate court was dismissed by the High Court.
Hence, the present appeal. c
Appellant-employee contended that as Ravinder Kumar Sharma is junior
to him, action on the part of the respondent-Board not to grant the same scale
of pay to him is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

Dismissing the appeal, the Court D
HELD: 1.1. The State Electricity Board has the power to frame
regulations. If it can frame regulations, in absence of any regulations,
issuance of executive orders is permissible in law. (Para 11) (255-D)

Meghalaya State Electricity Board and Anr. v. Jagadindra Arjun, [2001) E
6 sec 446, relied on.

1.2. The jurisdiction of the Board to lay down different scales of pay for
the employees on the basis of educational qualification per se is not
discrimination. (Para 12) [255-E, F)
F
State of Jammu and Kashimir v. Triloki Nath Khosa and Ors., [1974) 1
sec 19, followed.
P. Murugesan and Ors. v. State of Tamil Nadu and Ors., [1993) 2 SCC
340, relied on.
G
1.3. No doubt Ravinder Kumar was junior to the appellant but his case
has become final due to the decision of this Court in Punjab State Electricity
Board and Anr. etc. v. Ravinder Kumar Sharma and Ors. However, that
decision has been overruled by a larger Bench of this Court. Hence, the
appellant can get no benefit from the fact that his junior has been promoted. H
252 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 6 S.C.R.

A Article 14 will have no application in such a case. (Para 14) (256-8, CJ
State ofJammu and Kashmir v. Triloki Nath Khosa and Ors., (1974] 1
sec 19, followed.
Punjab State Electricity Board and Anr. Etc. v. Ravinder Kumar Sharma
B and Ors., not applicable.

1.4. Parity in the pay cannot be claimed when the education qualification
is different. [Para 15] (256-C)

Government o/WB. v. Tarun K. Roy and Ors., [2004] 1SCC347, relied
c on.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 2409 of2007.

From the Final Judgment and Order dated 31.03 .2006 of the High Court
of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in R.S.A. No. 4871 of 2003.
D
Gumam Singh, Uijal Singh, J.P. Singh and R.C. Kaushik for the Appellant.

Satinder S. Gulati and Kamaldeep Narang for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the Coun was delivered by
E S.B. SINHA, J. l . Leave granted.

2. This Appeal is directed against the judgment and Order dated 31.3.2006
passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in R.S.A. No.
4871/2003 dismissing an appeal arising from a judgment and order dated
F 24.4.2003 of the learned A.DJ., Patiala setting aside the judgment and order
of the trial judge dated 7.2.200 l.

3. The basic facts of the case are not in dispute. Appellant was appointed
as a lineman on 8.8.1964. He was promoted to the post of Junior Engineer on
15.3.1974. He was not a diploma holder. Respondent Board which is constituted
G in tenns of Section ·J 5 of the The Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 and incorporated
under Section 12 thereof provided for scale of pay on the basis of the
qualifications held by the incumbents. One Ravinder Kumar who was a non-
diploma holder filed a suit questioning the purpQrted discrimination in .
promotion of Lineman to Line Superintendent between diploma holder linemen
H vis-a-vis. non diploma holder linemen.
SOHAN SINGH SODHI•. PUNJAB STA TE ELECTRICITY BOARD. PATIALA [S.B. SINHA, I.] 253

4. The matter came up before this Court in Civil Appeal Nos. 3341 and A
3342 of (1983), Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala & Anr. etc. v Ravinder
Kumar Sharma and Ors., reported in AIR ( 1987) SC 367 wherein this Court
held:-

"8. The only issue raised in this appeal is whether defendant I, that
is, the Punjab State Electricity Board, is competent to discriminate B
between diploma holders and non-diploma holders Line Men forming
the common cadre of Line Men having a common seniority list in
promoting these line men on the basis of quota fixed by the order of
the State Electricity Board even though the requisite qualification for
promotion for Line Man to the post of Line Superintendent is either C •
the holding of diploma or certificate for electrical engineering from a
recognised institute or the non-diploma holders having passed one
and half year's course in the trade of Electrician/Line Man/ Wire Man
from recognised Industrial Training Institute and are matriculates and
have worked for four years as Line Man continuously and immediately
before promotion, as has been provided by the office order No. 97/ D .
ENG/BET/G-33 dated 22-10-1968."

5. The only issue which was raised before this Court was as to whether,
the Punjab State Electricity Board could make any discrimination for the
purpose of promotion between diploma holder and non-diploma holders on
the basis of quota fixed by the Order of the State Electricity Board even E
though the requisite qualification for promotion from line man to the line
superintendent is either the holding of the Diploma or Certificate of Electrical
Engineering from a recognized institute or having passed 1112 year course in
Electrical Trades of Electrician/Lineman/Wireman.

6. The claim of Ravinder Kumar was based on a circular letter issued F
by the respondent Board which was considered by this Court in the said
decision in the following terms:-

"11. This observation applies with full force to the present case, and
it has been rightly held by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana that G
the promotion of defendants 3 to 7 who are junior to the plaintiff-
respondent from Line Man to the post of Line Superintendent is
wholly bad and discriminatory and directed that the petitioner be
deemed to have been promoted to the post of Line Superintendent
from the date the said defendants 3 to 7 had been promoted from Line
Man to Line Superintendent. In our considered opinion there is no H
254 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007] 6 S.C.R.

A infirmity in the judgment of the High Court atfrrming the judgment and f
decree of the Courts below and we agree with the reasonings and
conclusions arrived at by the Courts below. The two appeals on
special leave are, therefore, dismissed with costs quantified at Rs.
5000/-to be paid by the appellant ofC.A. No. 3341of1983 to respondent
l."
B
7. We may, however, notice that the matter came up before a three
judges Bench of this Court in P. Murugesan & Ors. v. State of Tamil Nadu

C
& Ors., [1993] 2 SCC 340 wherein Ravinder Kumar (supra) was specially
overruled relying inter alia on a decision of a Constitution Bench of this Court
in State ofJammu and Kashmir v. Triloki Nath Khosa and Ors., [1974] 1 SCC
19.
-
8. It was categorically held therein:-

"19. The learned counsel for the respondents relied upon the decision
in Punjab State Electricity Board v. Ravinder Kumar Sharma, a
D decision rendered by a Bench comprising A.P. Sen and B.C. Ray, JJ.
The category of linemen in the service of the Punjab State Electricity
Board comprised both diplomaholders and others who may be referreq
to as non-diplomaholders. They constituted one single category having
a common seniority list. By means of the rules issued under the
E proviso to Article 309, a quota was prescribed for diplomaholders, the
result of which was that diplomaholders who were far junior to the
non-diplomaholders were promoted ignoring the non-diplomaholders.
The rule was held to be bad by the learned Subordinate Judge, Patiala.
On appeal, the Additional District Judge, Patiala atfrrmed the judgment.
It was affirmed by the High Court as well. The matter was brought to
F this Court. This Court affirmed the judgment of the High Court. A
perusal of the judgment shows that the attention of the Bench was
not drawn either to T.N. Khosa or to other decisions. Reference was
made only to the observations in Shujat Ali quoted hereinbefore and
it was held that the distinction made between the diplomaholders and
G non-diplomaholders was discriminatory and bad. Apart from the
distinction on facts between that case and the case before us, it is
evident that non-consideration of T.N. Khosa and other decisions
..
relevant under the subject has led to the laying down of a proposition
which. seems to run counter to T.N. Khosa. With great respect to the
learned Judges who decided that case, we are unable to accept the
H
SOHAN SINGH SODHI'· PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, PATIALA {SB. SINHA, J] 255
broad proposition flowing from the case." A
9. The learned Trial Judge relied on the decision of Ravinder Kumar
(supra) in holding that as both the plaintiff-appellant and Ravinder Kumar are
non-diploma holders and belong to the same cadre, the appellant could not
have been discriminated against. The First Appellate Court, however, relied
on the decision of three Judges Bench of this Court in P. Murugesan (supra), B
10. Mr. Gurnam Singh, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
appellant would inter alia contend that as the said Ravinder Kumar Sharma
is junior to the appellant, the action on the part of the respondent which is
a State within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution of India not to C
grant the same scale of pay is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of
India.

11. The power of State Electricity Board to issue circulars in exercise of
its powers under Section 79(c) of The Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 is not in
dispute. It has the power to frame regulations. If it can frame regulations, in D
absence of any regulations, issuance of executive orders is permissible in law,
The power of framing regulations prescribing conditions of service of its
employees appointed by the Board in terms of Section 15 of the Act cannot
be disputed. Thus, in absence of any rules or regulations governing the
service conditions of its employees, issuance of administrative order is
permissible in law vide Meghalaya State Electricity Board and Anr, v E
Jagadindra Arjun, [2001] 6 SCC 446.

12. The circular issued by the Board provided for parity in the scale of
pay in the induction post and not on a higher post. The said circular, therefore,
has no application in this case. The jurisdiction of the Board to lay down
different scales of pay for the employees on the basis of educational F
.1. qualification per se is not discriminated. {See Triloki Nath Khosa (supra), See
also State of Punjab and Anr. v. Ku/dip Singh and Anr., [2002] 5 SCC 756}.

13, In P. Murugesan (supra), it was clearly held:-

",,,,Looked at from this broad angle, it may appear there is some force G
in what the respondents contend viz., that once the graduate engineers
and diplomaholder engineers constitute one class, perform same duties
and discharge same responsibilities, placing a restriction on the
diplomaholders alone (limiting their chances of promotion to one out
of four promotions, as has been done by the impugned Amendment) H
256 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 6 S.C.R.

A is not justified but this may be a too simplistic way of looking at the
issue. We cannot fail to take note of the fact that right from 1974 i.e.,
since the decision of the Constitution Bench in Triloki Nath Khosa
I this Court has been holding unifonnly that even where direct recruits
and promotees are integrated into a common class, they could for
purposes of promotion to the higher cadre be classified on the basis
B of educational qualifications."

14. No doubt Ravinder Kumar was junior to the appellant but his case
has become final due to the decision in Ravinder Kumar (supra). However, J'
that decision has been overruled by a larger bench of this Court, and hence
C the appellant before us can get no benefit from the fact that his junior has
been promoted. Article 14 will have no application in such a case.

15. In Government of W.B. v. Tarun K. Roy & Ors., [2004] I SCC 347,
a three judges Bench of this Court, noticing several other decisions opined
that parity in the pay cannot be claimed when the educational qualification
D is different.

16. There is no merit in this appeal, which is dismissed accordingly.

S.K.S. Appeal dismissed.

-