JUDGMENT :

ASHOK BHUSHAN, J.

1. Delay condoned.

2. These appeals relate to claim of commissioned officers of all the three wings of the Defence Forces, i.e. Army, Air Force and Navy, who retired prior to 01.01.1996 for grant of next higher scale to one which was held by them at the time of retirement, on the strength of the Government of India's Order dated 21.11.1997 issued in consequence of implementation of Fifth Pay Commission Report.

3. These appeals were heard in two groups. First group consisting of Civil Appeal(arising out of Civil Appeal Diary No. 26259 of 2016) - Suchet Singh Yadav & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. and Civil Appeal(arising out of Civil Appeal Diary No. 25429 of 2017) - Union of India & Ors. v. Lt. Cdr. C.M. Mittal & Ors., which was heard on 16.01.2018. Second group of the appeals consisting of Civil Appeal No. 7989 of 2015 - Lt. Cdr. Gurmukh Singh v. Union of India & ors., Civil Appeal No. 7917 of 2016 - V.K. Mehta v. Union of India & Ors., Civil Appeal (arising out of Civil Appeal Diary No. 7231 of 2016) - Union of India & Ors. v. Lt. Cdr. Bhisham Kumar (R