JUDGMENT :

SANJAY KISHAN KAUL, J.

1. Indian Railways is the largest civilian employer in the country comprising of six production units and eighteen zones, with each zone having three to six divisions. ¹[Indian Railways Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 pg. 6.] The total number of employees as on 31.03.2005 was stated to be about 14 lakh with the following distribution of staff strength:

2. The Sixth Central Pay Commission (“6th CPC”) report in chapter 7.36 deals with the Ministry of Railways and shows that it has fourteen departments, including the Railway Board. The report examined the demands of these different departments seeking higher pay-scales and allowances for various categories in different departments. We are concerned in the present matter with claims made by Private Secretaries (Grade-II) (“PS-II