Neeraj Pandey vs State Of Uttarakhand

UKHC010142192026

Writ Petition Service Single No. 2152 of 2026

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Hon’ble Pankaj Purohit, J.

This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking a writ of mandamus commanding the respondent no.2 to decide the representation dated 26.06.2026 (Annexure No.5 to the writ petition) and to pay salary to the petitioner at-par with the salary paid to Computer Operator employed through UPNL in District Pithoragarh.

The petitioner was engaged as a contractual Computer Operator at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Dasaithal, Gangolihat, District Pithoragarh on 03.10.2009. Subsequently, the petitioner was absorbed on the post of Computer Operator on contractual basis, under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan at District Project Office, District Pithoragarh vide order dated 19.03.2016. Since then, the petitioner is regularly working on the said post.

Learned counsel for petitioner submits that the Computer Operators engaged through UPNL in District Pithoragarh in the same department are being paid Rs.

UKHC010142192026 29,498.48/- per month, while the petitioner is being paid Rs. 18,000/. The petitioner claims same salary as is being paid to the Computer Operators through UPNL i.e. Rs. 29,498.48/-.

Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that for the said purpose, petitioner has submitted a representation to the State Project Officer on 26.06.2026, but till date the said representation has not been decided.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that since the petitioner is discharging the same function as is being discharged by the Computer Operator employed through U.P.N.L. in Rashtriya Madhayamik Shiksha Abhiyan, Pithoragarh, therefore, the petitioner is also entitled to get the same salary on the basis of “equal pay for equal work”.

Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that if a direction is issued to respondent no.2-State Project Director to decide the said representation, in a time bound manner, the ends of justice would be met.

Learned counsel for the State has no objection if such an order is passed by this Court.

In such view of the matter, the writ petition is finally disposed of. The respondent no.2-State Project Director is directed to decide the petitioner’s representation dated 26.06.2026 (Annexure No. 5 to the writ petition) within a period of two months from the date of production of certified copy of this order.

(Pankaj Purohit, J.)

12.08.2026