/2023 INSC 0188/ REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION   CIVIL APPEAL NO.8836/2022 PRAKASH KUMAR JENA & ORS.          ..APPELLANT(S)      VERSUS THE STATE OF ODISHA & ORS.    .. RESPONDENT(S) WITH C.A. No. 8837 / 2022 WITH C.A. No. 8838     / 2022 J U D G M E N T M. R. Shah, J. 1. Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned judgment and order passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Orissa at Cuttack in W.A. No.319 of 2020, the original writ petitioners working as Home Guards and the   State   of   Orissa   both   have   preferred   the   present : 1 : appeals. 2. Civil Appeal arising out of SLP No.3906 of 2022 has been filed   by   the   State   of   Orissa   and   others   challenging   the order   passed   by   the   High   Court   of   Orissa   at   Cuttack   in W.P. (C) No.19556 of 2020 by which the High Court has disposed   of   the   said   writ   petition   in   terms   of   the judgment   and   order   passed   in   W.A.   No.319   of   2020 which   is   the   subject   matter   of   C.A.No.8836   of   2022. Therefore,   C.A.   No.8836   of   2022   arising   out   of   the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court in W.A. No.319 of 2020 is treated as lead matter and the facts   arising   out   of   the   said   W.A.No.319   of   2020   are narrated, which are as under: ­ 2.1 That the original writ petitioners all are / were working as Home   Guards   for   more   than   10   to   15   years   under   the Home Department  of  the  State  of Orissa. After  rendering 10 to 15 years of service, they filed the writ petition before the   learned   Single   Judge   for   a   direction   to   the   State   to disburse their salary as per the direction of this Court in : 2 : the   case   of   Grah   Rakshak,   Home   Guards   Welfare Association vs. State of Himachal Pradesh and others reported   in   (2015)   6   SCC   247   and   the   subsequent order   /   clarificatory   order   dated   04.05.2016   passed   in Contempt   Petition   (C)   Nos.   699­700   of   2015,   by   which this   Court   clarified   its   earlier   order.   A   relief   was   also sought   to   give   them   benefit   of   7 th   Pay   Commission   from the date the same had been given to their counterparts of the   other   States.   The   learned   Single   Judge   following   the decision   of   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah   Rakshak (supra)   allowed   the   said   writ   petition   directing   the   State Government   to   implement   the   recommendations   of   the Director   General   (Fire   Service,   Home   Guards,   Civil Defense),   Orissa   in   respect   of   the   Home   Guards   in   the State   of   Orissa   as   per   the   decision   of   this   Court   in   the case of   Grah Rakshak (supra).   The learned Single Judge also   directed   the   State   to   take   into   account   the   increase in the pay of the Constables on application of the 7 th   Pay Commission’s report. That it is required to be noted that : 3 : earlier   the   Director   General   of   Police,   Orissa, recommended payment at the minimum sum of Rs.533/­ per   day   taking   into   consideration   the   remuneration available to the Constables in the State in the lowest rank in   the   Police   personnel   since   10.11.2016.   Therefore,   the learned   Single   Judge   while   granting   one   month   time   to the   State   Government   to   implement   the   said recommendation   directed   that   the   Home   Guards   in   the State   of   Orissa   pending   decision   under   final   fitment   be paid   provisionally   at   the   minimum   Rs.500/­   from January,   2020,   subject   to   the   final   decision   of   the Government   of   Orissa   on   implementation   of   the recommendation of the Director General. 2.2 Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgment and order passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.No.8148 of 2020, the State of Orissa and others preferred W.A. No. 319   of   2020.   By   the   impugned   judgment   and   order,   the Division   Bench   of   the   High   Court   by   and   large   affirmed the   judgment   and   order   passed   by   the   learned   Single : 4 : Judge.   However,   The   High   Court   restricted   the   payment at the rate of Rs.533/­ per day to the Home Guards from January, 2020, instead of 10.11.2016, as directed by the learned Single Judge. 2.3 Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned judgment and order  passed by the Division  Bench of the High   Court   in   W.A.No.319   of   2020,   the   original   writ petitioners – Home Guards as well as the State of Orissa have preferred the present appeals. 3. Learned   counsel   appearing   on   behalf   of   the   State   of Orissa   has   vehemently   submitted   that   the   High   Court has   materially   erred   in   directing   the   State   to   pay Rs.533/­ per day as Duty Call­up Allowance (hereinafter referred to as “DCA”) to the Home Guards working in the State   and   the   same   would   be   much   more   than   the amount   being   paid   to   the   Constables   at   the   entry   level recruited as per Odisha Group­C & Group­D (Contractual Appointment)   Rules,   2013   (hereinafter   referred   to   as   the : 5 : Rule, 2013).  3.1 It   is   submitted   that   the   High   Court   has   failed   to appreciate   that   earlier   as   per   the   6 th   Pay   Commission entitlement, the Constables at the entry level recruited as per Rule 2013 used to get Rs.7,200/­ per month at entry level. Therefore, Home Guards in the State of Orissa were entitled  to   get  Rs.240/­  per  day   as Daily  Pay  allowance/ Duty   Call­up   Allowance.   It   is   submitted   that   however, after the 7 th   Pay Commission, the pay of Police Constable at entry level was revised to a consolidated remuneration of   Rs.9,000/­   per   month   as   against   Rs.7,200/­   per month. It is submitted that therefore and accordingly, the payment   to   the   Home   Guards   was   also   revised   to Rs.300/­   per   day   from   Rs.240/­   per   day   apart   from Rs.25/­   per   month   towards   Washing   Allowance.   It   is submitted   that   therefore   the   State   of   Orissa   as   such complied the  judgment  of this  Court in  the  case  of   Grah Rakshak (supra). : 6 : 3.2 It   is   further   submitted   that   even   the   High   Court   has materially   erred   in   taking   into   consideration   the recommendations made by the Director General, as apart from   the   fact   that   the   recommendations   made   by   the Director   General   were   not   binding   on   the   State Government, the Director General had also not taken into consideration   the   remuneration   of   the   Constables   at entry   level   appointed   under   Rule   2013.   It   is   submitted that   rather   the   recommendations   are   based   on   the comparative daily allowances of the Home Guards paid by other States in the country. It is submitted that the facts peculiar   to   the   State   of   Orissa   has   not   at   all   been   taken into   consideration   by   the   Director   General   in   the recommendations. It is submitted that therefore the High Court   has   failed   in   error   by   solely   relying   upon   the recommendations of the Director General. 3.3 It   is   further   submitted   by   learned   counsel   appearing   on behalf   of   the   State   that   if   the   Home  Guards   in   the  State : 7 : are paid daily pay allowance / Duty Call­up Allowance at the   rate   of   Rs.533/­   per   day   as   directed   by   the   High Court,   it   would   create   an   anomalous   situation   because the   Constables   at   entry   level   as   per   7 th   Pay   Commission would get only Rs.9,000/­ per month, whereas at the rate of   Rs.533/­   per   day,   the   Home   Guards   would   get   more than   Rs.15,000/­   per   month.   It   is   submitted   that therefore   same   would   be   against   the   judgment   of   this Court in the case of  Grah Rakshak (supra). 3.4 It   is   further   submitted   by   the   learned   counsel   appearing on behalf of the State that the High Court has also failed to   appreciate   that   presently   16894   numbers   of   Home Guards   are   working   in   the   State   and   therefore   if   the Home Guards working in the State are paid salary as per the   directions   issued   by   the   learned   Single   Judge modified   by   the   Division   Bench,   in   that   case,   a   huge financial burden would be fastened upon the State. 3.5 With above submissions, it is prayed to allow the present : 8 : appeals preferred by the State. 4. While   opposing   the   present   appeals   preferred   by   the State,   the   learned   counsel   appearing   on   behalf   of   the respective   Home   Guards/   original   writ   petitioners   / applicants  have vehemently  submitted that the direction issued   by   the   learned   Single   Judge   affirmed   by   the Division   Bench   of   the   High   Court   directing   the   State   to pay DCA at Rs.533/­ per day is absolutely in consonance with   the   judgment   of   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah Rakshak (supra)  and the subsequent clarificatory order. 4.1 It   is   submitted   that   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah Rakshak (supra)  though rejected the prayer of the Home Guards for regularization of their services or for grant of regular   appointments,   however,   directed   all   the   State Governments   to   pay   them   the   DCA   at   such   rate   total   of 30   days   (one   month)   comes   to   minimum   of   the   pay   to which the Police personnel of the State are entitled. It is further   submitted   that   thereafter   dispute   arose   whether : 9 : same   includes   DA   or   not   and   therefore   this   Court clarified that  the payment of minimum  of the pay  would mean   basic   pay   +   grade   pay   +   dearness   allowance   + washing   allowance.   It   is   submitted   that   this   Court   also further   clarified   that   the   pay   that   is   given   to   the   Home Guards   will   not   be   on   a   monthly   basis   but   will   be calculated   with   reference   to   each   day   of   work   put   in   by the Home Guards. 4.2 It   is   submitted   that   thereafter   the   Government   of   India, Ministry   of   Home   Affairs   as   early   as   on   16.09.2016 requested   all   the   Chief   Secretaries   of   all   States   and Union   Territories   to   issue   necessary   directions   for compliance   of   the   aforesaid   judgment.   It   is   submitted that   thereafter   many   States   have   complied   with   the directions   issued   by   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah Rakshak   (supra)   and   the   clarificatory   order   except   the State   of   Orissa.   It   is   submitted   that   even   so   far   as   the State of Orissa is concerned, the Director General in the year   2016   itself   recommended   to   pay   a   minimum   of : 10 : Rs.533/­   per   day   to   the   Home   Guards   in   the   State   of Orissa   from   10.11.2016   in   light   of   the   judgment   of   this Court   in   the   case   of   Grah   Rakshak   (supra)   and   the clarificatory order. 4.3 Learned   counsel   appearing   on   behalf   of   the   respective Home Guards have prayed to consider the following facts: (i) This   Hon’ble   Court   had   in   the   judgment   dated 11.03.2015 passed  in  the  matter  of   Grah   Rakshak, Home   Guards   Welfare   Association   vs.   State   of Himachal   Pradesh   directed   payment   of   such   DCA preferably within three months; (ii) The   Government   of   India,   Ministry   of   Home   Affairs as   early   as   on   16.09.2016   had   requested   the   Chief Secretaries   of   all   States   and   Union   Territories   to issue   necessary   directions   for   compliance   of   the aforesaid judgment; (iii) The   Government   of   India,   Ministry   of   Home   Affairs wrote letter dated 5.10.2016 to the Secretary, Home : 11 : Department,   Government   of   Orissa   for   taking appropriate   action   regarding   the   complaint   of Petitioner   No.1   about   disobedience   of   the   order passed   by   this   Hon’ble   Court   regarding   payment   of salary to Home Guards; (iv) the Directorate General (Fire Service, Home Guards, Civil Defence) Odisha, in light of the judgment dated 11.03.2015   passed   by   the   Hon’ble   Supreme   Court in   the   matter   of   Grah   Rakshak,   Home   Guards Welfare   Association   vs.   State   of   Himachal   Pradesh and   judgment   dated   04.05.2016   passed   in Contempt Petition (C) No.699­700 of 2015, issued a recommendation   to   Principal   Secretary   to Government   of   Odisha,   Home   Department   i.e. Respondent No.2 to pay a minimum of Rs.533/­ per day   to   the   Petitioners   and   other   Home   Guards   in the   State   of   Odisha   from   10.11.2016,   after   taking into   consideration   the   remuneration   paid   to   the Constables in the State of Odisha in the lowest rank : 12 : in the police personnel. (v) The   Ministry   of   Petroleum   and   Natural   Gas, Government   of   India   issued   a   letter   dated 31.10.2017   to   the   Chief   Minister   of   Odisha regarding the receipt of a petition in connection with implementation   of   judgment   dated   04.05.2016 passed   by   this   Hon’ble   Court   in   Contempt   Petition (c) No.699­700 of 2015 regarding  payment of Home Guards’ salary, for appropriate action. (vi) The   MHA   directed   the   Chief   Secretary   of   all   the States including the State of Odisha on 11.04.2018 to implement the judgments passed by this Hon’ble Court in the matter of Grah Rakshak, Home Guards Welfare   Association   vs.   State   of   Himachal   Pradesh and   Contempt   Petition   (c)   No.699­700   of   2015,   for enhancing   the   duty   allowance   of   Home   Guards latest by 15.09.2018. (vii) Writ   petition   was   filed   by   the   petitioners   on 09.05.2018. : 13 : 4.4 It   is   further   submitted   by   learned   counsel   appearing   on behalf   of   original   writ   petitioners/   applicants/   Home Guards   that   the   submission   on   behalf   of   the   State   that the Constables in the State at the entry level recruited as per Rule 2013 were getting  Rs.7,200/­ per month as per 6 th   Pay   Commission   and   thereafter   at   the   rate   of Rs.9,000/­   per   month   after   the   7 th   Pay   Commission recommendations   and   therefore,   the   Home   Guards   shall be   entitled   to   the   same   consolidated   remuneration   of Rs.9,000/­   per   month   is   concerned,   it   is   submitted   that said   submission   is   absolutely   misplaced.   It   is   submitted that   as   per   Rule   2013,   the   Constables   are   appointed initially   on   contractual   basis   and   thereafter   after   few years   of   service,   they   are   made   permanent.   It   is submitted   that   in   the   present   case,   the   prayer   of   Home Guards   for   regular   appointment   and/or   regularization   of their services have been declined. It is submitted that the question  is what the Constables are getting as minimum of the pay­scale/pay. It is submitted that all the aforesaid : 14 : aspects   were   as   such   dealt   with   and   considered   by   the Director   General   in   his   recommendation   dated 10.11.2016. 4.5 It   is   submitted   that   even   otherwise   except   the   State   of Orissa, all other States have complied with the directions issued   by   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah   Rakshak (supra).   It   is   submitted   that   therefore   all   the   Home Guards   working   in   the   State   of   Orissa   are   entitled   to similar benefits which are being paid to the Home Guards in other States. 4.6 Now   so  far   as   the   impugned   judgment  and   order   passed by   the   Division   Bench   of   the   High   Court   restricting   the benefits   of   the   DCA   at   Rs.533/­   per   day   from   January, 2020,   is   concerned,   learned   counsel   appearing   for   the respective   original   writ   petitioners   –   Home   Guards   have vehemently   submitted   that   as   such   no   cogent   reasons have been given by the Division Bench of the High Court restricting the said benefits from January, 2020 only. : 15 : 4.7 It   is   submitted   that   as   such   this   Court   passed   the judgment and order in the case of  Grah Rakshak (supra) in   the   year   2015.   Thereafter,   the   Government   of   India, Ministry   of   Home   Affairs   as   early   as   on   16.09.2016 requested   the   Chief   Secretaries   of   all   the   States   and Union   Territories   to   issue   necessary   directions   for compliance of the judgment and order of this Court in the case   of   Grah   Rakshak   (supra).     It   is   submitted   that thereafter   the   Government   of   India,   Ministry   of   Home Affairs   wrote   letter   dated   05.10.2016   to   the   Secretary, Home   Department,   Government   of   Orissa   for   taking appropriate   action   regarding   the   complaint   of   the   Home Guards   about   disobedience   of   the   order   passed   by   this Court regarding payment of salary to Home Guards. It is submitted that not only then even thereafter the Director General   vide   his   recommendation   dated   10.11.2016 recommended to pay DCA at Rs.533/­ per day with effect from   10.11.2016.   It   is   submitted   that   therefore   the learned Single Judge was justified in directing to pay DCA : 16 : at Rs.533/­ per day with effect from 10.11.2016. 4.8 It   is   submitted   that   therefore   the   Division   Bench   of   the High Court has materially  erred in restricting the benefit of DCA at Rs.533/­ per day from January, 2020 only. 4.9 By making above submissions, it is prayed to dismiss the appeals   preferred   by   the   State   and   to   allow   the   appeals preferred by the Home Guards.    5. We   have   heard   the   learned   counsel   appearing   on   behalf of respective parties at length.  6. At   the   outset,   the   issue   whether   the   Home   Guards working in the State are entitled to DCA/Duty Allowance as per minimum of the pay to which the Police personnel of   the   State   are   entitled   is   not   res   integra   in   view   of   the decision   of   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah   Rakshak (supra) .   While   declining   to   grant   the   relief   either   for regularization   of   service   or   for   grant   of   regular appointments,   this   Court   in   paragraph­39   directed   as : 17 : under : “ 39 . In view of the discussion made above, no relief can be   granted   to   the   appellants   either   regularization   of services   or   grant   of   regular   appointments   hence   no interference   is   called   for   against   the   judgments   passed by   the   Himachal   Pradesh,   Punjab   and   Delhi   High Courts. However,  taking into consideration the fact that Home   Guards   are   used   during   the   emergency   and   for other   purposes   and   at   the   time   of   their   duty   they   are empowered   with   the   power   of   police   personnel,   we   are of the view that the State Government should pay them the duty allowance at such rates, total of which 30 days (a   month)   comes   to   minimum   of   the   pay   to   which   the police personnel of State are entitled. It is expected that the State Governments shall pass appropriate orders in terms   of   aforesaid   observation   on   an   early   date preferably within three months.”   6.1 Thereafter, a further clarificatory order came to be passed by   this   Court   in   Contempt   Petition   (C)   Nos.699­700   of 2015. This Court clarified as under:  “So   far   as   the   present   case   is   concerned,   relief   of regularization   was   declined,   but   this   Court   directed   the payment   of   minimum   of   the   pay   which,   as   we   have explained   above,   would   mean   basic   pay   +   grade   pay   + dearness allowance + washing allowance. However, we make it clear that the pay that is given to the petitioners   will   not   be   on   a   monthly   basis,   but   will   be calculated with reference to each day of work put in by the petitioners.” 6.2 Thereafter, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs : 18 : vide   communication   dated   16.09.2016   requested   Chief Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories to issue necessary   directions   for   compliance   of   the   judgment   of this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah   Rakshak   (supra)   and further   clarificatory   order.   That   thereafter   a   complaint was   made   on   behalf   of   the  Home   Guards   of   the   State  of Orissa   about   disobedience   of   the   order   passed   by   this Court   regarding   payment   of   salary   to   Home   Guards   in the State and to that the Government of India, Ministry of Home   Affairs   vide   communication   dated   05.10.2016 addressed   to   the   Secretary,   Home   Department, Government   of   Orissa,   requested   for   taking   appropriate action.   That   thereafter   in   the   recommendation   dated 10.11.2016,   Director   General   (Fire   Service,   Home Guards, Civil Defence) Orissa recommended to pay to the Home Guards in the State of Orissa, DCA at Rs.533/­ per day   as   per   minimum   of   the   pay   to   which   the   Police personnel   of   the   State   were   entitled.   Despite   the   above, the   State   Government   did   not   pay   the   DCA   as   per   the : 19 : judgment   of   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah   Rakshak (supra)   and   as   per   the   further   clarificatory   order. However, the Home Guards in the State  were being paid the DCA at Rs.7,200/­ per month/Rs.9,000/­ per month as   being   paid   to   the   Constables   appointed   under   Rule 2013. It is required to be noted that under Rule 2013, the Constables   in   the   State   initially   are   appointed   on contractual   basis   and   thereafter,   after   few   years   of service,   they   are   made   permanent.   However,   after   they are made permanent, they are being put in the minimum of the pay­scale and therefore, the Home Guards shall be entitled   to   the   DCA   taking   into   consideration   the minimum of the pay to which the Police personnel of the State are entitled at the time of their initial appointment on   regular   basis/permanent   basis,   after   rendering   their contractual services under Rule 2013. At this stage, it is required to be noted that the decision of this Court in the case   of   Grah   Rakshak   (supra)   and   further   clarificatory order  has  also been  complied with  by  several  States like : 20 : Himachal   Pradesh,   Punjab,   Madhya   Pradesh,   Bihar, Chhastisgarh,   Maharashtra,   Kerala,   Haryana,   Goa,   NCT of   Delhi   and   Union   Territory   of   Lakshadweep   etc.   which is evident from the following chart: Sl. No. Name of the State Payment w.e.f. Pay Rs. Grade Pay Rs. DA Rs. (19%) Wash Allowan ce Total amount in Rs. 1 Punjab 14.10.16 10,300/­ 3,200/­ 16165/­ 80/­ 29,565/­ 2 Madhya Pradesh 14.10.16 10,300/­ 3,200/­ 16065/­ 80/­ 29,565/­ 3 Bihar 18.10.16 10,300/­ 3,200/­ 16065/­ 80/­ 29,565/­ 4 Chhatisgarh 20.10.16 10,300/­ 3,200/­ 16065/­ 80/­ 29,565/­ 5 Maharashtra 27.10.16 10,300/­ 3,200/­ 16065/­ 80/­ 29,565/­ 6 Kerala 04.03.16 ­ ­ ­ ­ 18,000/­ (per day 600/­) 7 Haryana 01.11.16 ­ ­ ­ ­ 17,160/­ (per day 572/­) 8 Himachal Pradesh 14.10.15 5,910/­ 1,900/­ 9294/­ 30/­ 17,134/­ 9 Goa 01.06.17 18,000/­ ­ 720/­ 50/­ 18,770/­ (p.d. 642/­) 10 Lakshadweep 14.08.18 ­ ­ ­ ­ 19,260/­ (p.d. 642/­) : 21 : 11 New Delhi 01.01.18 18,000/­ ­ 1,260/­ 90/­ 20,550/­ 6.3 Therefore, the State of Orissa cannot be permitted to now submit   that   as   contractual   Constables   appointed   under Rule   2013   are   being   paid   a   fixed   lump   sum   amount   at the entry level, the Home Guards after rendering 10 to 15 years   of   service   also   shall   be   entitled   to   the   same   fixed salary. The aforesaid stand would be just contrary to the directions   issued   by   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah Rakshak (supra)  and the subsequent further clarificatory order.   Under   the   circumstances,   the   High   Court   has rightly   directed   to   pay   the   DCA   at   Rs.533/­   per   day.   As such   we   are   in   complete   agreement   with   the   view   taken by the learned Single Judge as well as the Division Bench of the High Court. Therefore, the appeals preferred by the State to that extent deserve dismissal. 8.  Now, so far as the appeals preferred by the original writ petitioners   against   the   impugned   judgment   and   order passed   by   the   Division   Bench   of   the   High   Court : 22 : restricting   the   benefit   of   DCA   at   Rs.533/­   per   day   from January, 2020, is concerned, at the outset it is required to   be   noted   that   no   cogent   reasons   have   been   assigned by   the   Division   Bench   of   the   High   Court   to   restrict   the benefit of Rs.533/­ per  day from January, 2020 instead of 10.11.2016. Even otherwise, it is required to be noted that this Court as such delivered judgment in the case of Grah   Rakshak   (supra)   as   far   back   in   the   month   of March,   2015   and   a   further   clarificatory   order   was passed   on   04.05.2016.   Even   thereafter   the   Director General   recommended   on   10.11.2016   to   pay   DCA   at Rs.533/­   per   day   which   was   in   consonance   with   the decision   of   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Grah   Rakshak (supra)   and   the   subsequent   clarificatory   order   dated 04.05.2016.   Therefore,   the   Division   Bench   of   the   High Court is not justified in restricting the benefit of the DCA at   Rs.533/­   per   day   from   January,   2020.   However,   at the   same   time   considering   the   fact   that   there   were 17765   Home   Guards   working   and   even   as   observed   by : 23 : the   Commander   General   /   Director   General   in   its recommendation   dated   10.11.2016,   there   will   be   a financial   implication   of   Rs.51,78,775/­   on   the Government   per   day   towards   payment   of   DCA   at Rs.293/­   per   day   (Rs.533   –   Rs.240)   and   the   annual financial   implication   would   come   to   Rs.189   Crores   if they   are   engaged   365   days   a   year   and   taking   into consideration   such   a   huge   financial   burden,   we   restrict the benefit of DCA at Rs.533/­ per day from the date of filing of the writ petition before the learned Single Judge which would be from 01.06.2018. 9. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, the appeals   preferred   by   the   State   of   Orissa   are   hereby dismissed   with   the   modification   as   under   and   the appeals   preferred   by   the   original   writ   petitioners/Home Guards are partly allowed as under.  10.   The   judgment   and   order   passed   by   the   learned   Single Judge   confirmed   by   the   Division   Bench   directing   to   pay to   the   Home   Guards   in   the   State,   DCA   at   Rs.533/­   per : 24 : day are hereby confirmed. However, it is clarified that the arrears at the rate of Rs.533/­ per day shall be paid from 01.06.2018.  The arrears shall  be paid within   a period  of three months from today. It goes without saying that the Home   Guards   shall   be   entitled   to   the   periodical   rise which   may   be   available   to   the   Police   personnel   of   the State   and   the   DCA   to   be   paid   to   the   Home   Guards   be periodically   increased   taking   into   consideration   the minimum of the pay to which the Police personnel of the State   are   entitled   considering   periodical   increase   from time   to   time.   The   present   appeals   stand   disposed   in terms of the above. There shall be no orders as to costs.  ………………………………… J.              (M. R. SHAH) ………………………………… J.      (M.M. SUNDRESH) New Delhi,  March 17, 2023 : 25 :