JUDGMENT

Dr. AR. Lakshmanan, J.-The petitioners are officers and supervisors employed in the Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the IDPL"). They filed writ petition No. 678 of 1985 in this Court challenging the directions given by the Secretary, Ministry of Industry (the third respondent herein). This Court passed an order to comply with the orders passed by this Court. Thereupon the Government appointed Fifth Pay Commission in 1993 to consider revision of pay and allowances of the Central Government employees and pending final report, the Pay Commission granted three instalments of interim relief. According to the petitioners, the benefit was extended to the employees of all 69 Public Enterprises. The grievance of the petitioners was that they were not given any instalment of interim relief and as there was no response from the Chairman and Managing Director of the IDPL, they filed contempt petition No. 490 of 1996 for violation of directions given by this Court s order dated 3.5.1990. The contempt petition was dismissed as there was unprecedented financial crunch. On 24.10.1997, the Fifth Pay Commission recommended revision of scales of pay and allo