JUDGMENT

Shivaraj V. Patil, J.-

Civil Appeal Nos. 5525/2000, 5527-5528/2000, 5530-5531/2000, 5529/2000 and 5526/2000

Aggrieved by the impugned orders passed by the High Court accepting the plea of the respondents as regards higher scales of pay and pension, Grid Corporation of Orissa Limited and others are in appeal in these appeals. Necessary facts required for the disposal of these appeals, briefly stated, are the following:

2. Hirakund Dam Project was initially entrusted to the Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission. The workmen employed therein were getting the pay scales applicable to the employees in the work-charged establishment of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The State Government took over the said project w.e.f. 1.4.1960 with understanding that the work-charged employees recruited prior to 1.4.1960 should be allowed to continue on the same scales of pay and on conditions of service as were applicable to them on 31.3.1960, which is evident from the order of Government of Orissa dated 8th September, 1961. The workmen employed subsequent to 1.4.1960 were paid pay scales applicable to the employees of the work-charged establishments of the State G