Punjab State Electricity Board & Ors vs Dharam Singh & Ors

The Supreme Court held that the Punjab State Electricity Board's decision to reduce the pay scale of work-charged Loco Operators from Rs.1200-2200 to Rs.950-1800 was arbitrary and illegal, as the respondents were appointed under the former pay scale and had accepted the offer. The Court emphasized that the Board's claim of an inadvertent mistake in the appointment letters was not substantiated, and thus the High Court's affirmation of the appellate court's decree in favor of the respondents was upheld. The Court reiterated the principle that work-charged employees cannot be treated differently from regular employees without valid justification, referencing the case of State of Haryana v. Charanjit Singh.