JUDGMENT

A. K. Patnaik, J. —

This is an appeal against the judgment and order dated 12.08.2003 of the Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in Writ Petition No.7596 of 2003 (for short ‘the impugned judgment’).

2.The relevant facts very briefly are that the respondents herein were working in the post of Investigators in the National Sample Survey Organisation, Government of India, Ministry of Planning and Implementation, Department of Statistics at Hyderabad, in the pay-scale of Rs.425-700 prior to 01.01.1986. The next higher post is the post of Assistant Superintendent. In the year 1978, there was a demand by the Assistant Superintendents working in the operation units under the Director, National Sample Survey Organisation, that the existing pay-scale of Rs.470-750 of the post of Assistant Superintendents be raised to Rs.550-900 with effect from 01.01.1978. The demand was referred to the Board of Arbitration for adjudication on 12.02.1985. When the reference was pending before the Board of Arbitration, the Central Fourth Pay Commission made recommendations that the pay-scale of Assistant Superintendents be revised to Rs.1600-2660 with effect from 01.01.1986. Thereafter, on