Facts
Several Original Applications were filed by various applicants, including Rinku Kumar and others, seeking the release of their pending salaries/wages.
Source reference: no citationThe applicants worked under the CAMPA Scheme in various Forest Divisions such as Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Ramban, Udhampur, and Ramnagar.
Source reference: no citationTheir salaries/wages were pending from 2012 till December 2014.
Source reference: p.11-12The Chief Conservator of Forest, Jammu, had previously sent communications seeking allotment of funds for these pending wages, specifically communication No. CCF/J/NG/Esst/1353 dated 27.02.2012 for INR 1,80,00,000 and communication No. CCF/2612-14 dated 16.10.2014.
Source reference: p.12Issues
Whether the respondents should be directed to release the pending salaries/wages of the petitioners for their work under the CAMPA Scheme from 2012 to December 2014.
Source reference: p.11-12Law Applied
The Applicants filed their Original Applications under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, which grants the Tribunal jurisdiction to hear and decide applications from aggrieved persons concerning their service matters.
Source reference: p.11The core principle applied is the legal entitlement of employees to receive due and admissible wages for services rendered.
Source reference: no citationReasoning
The court heard both parties.
Source reference: p.12It noted that the Chief Conservator of Forest, Jammu, had already acknowledged the outstanding wages and initiated communication for fund allotment on two occasions (February 27, 2012, and October 16, 2014).
Source reference: p.12This indicates that the claim for pending wages is recognized by the respondents' department.
Source reference: no citationGiven these facts, the Tribunal deemed it appropriate to direct the concerned authorities to process the release of these wages.
Source reference: p.12-13Holding
The Tribunal disposed of all Original Applications.
It directed the respondents, specifically the concerned Range Officers of various Divisions (Banihal-Gool, Ramban, Samba, Udhampur, Kathua, Jammu), to look into the cases of the petitioners for the release of their due and admissible pending wages.
Source reference: p.13This process is to be completed within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the order.
Source reference: p.13Original Court PDF
Rinku Kumar & Ors. v. U.T. of J&K & Ors. [O.A. No. 61 /244/2024 c/w O.A. No. 61 /245 /2024, O.A. No. 61 /246 /2024, O.A. No. 61 /247 /2024, O.A. No. 61 /248 /2024]
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