JUDGMENT

S.B. Sinha, J.-Applicability of doctrine of equal pay for work is involved in this appeal which arises out of a judgment and order dated 13.4.1998 passed by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur in Writ Petition No. 1550 of 1998.

Background Facts :

2. The appellant herein is an Association of Rural Agriculture Extension Officers (hereinafter referred to as the Extension Officers ). They were originally appointed as Village Level Workers. They are matriculates. The services of the Village Level Workers were transferred to the agriculture department of the State. It framed rules in the year 1972. On or about 9.4.1981, the designation of the Village Level Workers was changed to the Rural Agriculture Extension Officer by the State Government. The State of Madhya Pradesh in exercise of the power conferred upon it under the Proviso appended to Article 309 of the Constitution of India made rules known as Madhya Pradesh Revision of Pay Rules, 1983 . Rule 3 of the said Rules reads as under :

"3. Revised Scale of Pay.- The revised scale of pay applicable to any post carrying existing scale shown in columns 2 and 3 of Annexures I and II respectively shall be the corresponding