Judgment

SAWANT, J.:- The petitioners in Writ Petition No. 251 of 1987 are Dairy Mates whereas, those in Writ Petition No. 558 of 1987 are Junior Plant Operatives and Semi-skilled Operatives, all working with the Delhi Milk Scheme. The first petition is on behalf of about one thousand workers, whereas, the second petition is on behalf of about 280 workers.

2. The grievance of the Dairy Mates is that although they perform the duties and functions of semi-skilled workers, they have ,been wrongly classified as unskilled workers and paid salary as such, as recommended by the 4th Pay Commission namely, Rs. 750-940/- instead of Rs. 800-1150/- which is the salary recommended to the semi-skilled workers. The grievance of the Junior Plant Operatives and Semi-Skilled Operatives is that they are actually doing the work of skilled workers, but are classified similarly as unskilled workers and paid salary as such. Both, further, have a grievance that their counterparts in other departments, particularly in Railways, have been properly classified and are paid salary accordingly.

3. The petitions were resisted by the respondent Union of India by filing counter affidavits denying the contentions of t