PATNA, India, Oct. 15 -- Patna High Court issued the following judgment on Sept. 16:

Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the respondents.

2. The petitioners have filed the instant application for the following relief(s) :-

"1. (I) For commanding the respondents to make payment of Salary to the petitioners of the post of Panchayat Sewak from the date of joining in the Training Institute as given to similar situated Panchayat Sewak by the Govt. of Bihar. II) For further direction to the respondents to make Payment of arrear of Salary after fixation of date initial appointment from the date of joining in Training Institute to petitioners and consequential benefits of retiral dues.

(III) For further direction to the respondent authorities to to pay 18% compound interest on his dues salary for delay payment. (IV) For further any other reliefs / reliefs, direction /Directions, order/ orders may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of this case."

3. It is the case of the petitioners that having been appointed on the post of Panchayat Sewak (now Panchayat Secretary) on 16.10.1995, they joined the Panchayat Training Institute, Jasidih, Deoghar on 17.10.1995. On conclusion of the training, they joined the office of the District Panchayat Raj Officer, Saran on 13.12.1996.

4. The petitioners are aggrieved by the action of the respondents insofar as payment of salary has been made to the petitioners from the date of their joining in the office of the District Panchayat Raj Officer and not from the date of their joining in the training institute, though such payment has been made to some of the similarly situated persons vide order contained in memo no.1425 dated 16.4.2025 (Annexure-P10) issued under the signature of the District Magistrate, Saran at Chapra.

5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and taking into consideration the contents of the petition and the submissions made, this writ application is disposed of directing the petitioners to file their individual/separate applications before the District Magistrate, Saran at Chapra (respondent no.3) with respect to the reliefs prayed for herein.

The rest of the document can be viewed at https://patnahighcourt.gov.in/viewjudgment/MTUjMTMwNjkjMjAyNSMxI04=-jzAyAUqo01o=

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