The Competent Authority Must Decide the Pay-Fixation Grievance by a Reasoned Order After Hearing the Petitioner.

The petitioners challenged the fixation of their pay and the consequential recovery in earlier proceedings, W.P.(S) No. 9466 of 2019 and connected matters.

By order dated 24 February 2026, the High Court permitted representations and directed the competent authority to decide them by a reasoned order after hearing the petitioners.

A representation submitted by one of the employees was forwarded to the Principal Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, as the authority competent to decide the grievance, but it remained undecided.

The petitioners therefore sought permission to submit a fresh representation and a direction for its consideration.

Whether the petitioners should be permitted to submit a fresh representation to the Principal Secretary concerning pay fixation, grade pay and consequential recovery.

Whether the competent authority should be directed to decide that representation by a reasoned and speaking order, after hearing the petitioners, and within a specified period.

The Court applied the procedural direction made in its earlier order dated 24 February 2026 in W.P.(S) No. 9466 of 2019 and connected matters: the competent authority must consider the employees’ representation concerning pay fixation and consequential recovery, afford an opportunity of hearing, and issue a reasoned and speaking order.

No statute or additional precedent was relied on in this order.

The petitioners’ grievance remained undecided after the earlier representation was forwarded to the Principal Secretary, whom the authorities identified as competent to decide it.

In light of the earlier order and the State counsel’s undertaking that a fresh representation would be decided within 40 days, the Court permitted the petitioners to submit one, supported by the earlier court orders and relevant documents.

It directed the Principal Secretary to decide a representation filed within two weeks, after affording a hearing and by passing a reasoned and speaking order.

Respondent No. 1 must decide it in accordance with law, after hearing the petitioners and issuing a reasoned and speaking order, within 40 days of receiving the representation.