JUDGMENT

Sanjay Kishan Kaul, J. - An endeavour made by the Respondent-State to give uniform pay scales to Upper Division and Lower Division Assistants/Clerks working in the University in the then State of Bihar has given rise to this prolonged litigation which began in the year, 1998.

2. The Government issued a letter No. 373 dated 28.07.1981 providing for a merger of pay scales only of Lower Division Assistants/Clerks with the pay scale of Upper Division Assistants/Clerks staff of Patna University. Since this is the basic document from which the dispute arises, it would be appropriate to reproduce this letter as under:

in connection with the sanction of merger scale to lower division and upper division assistants in your University and sanction of senior scale (Rs. 348-570) to all the categories of posts in the scale of Rs.260-408/-, 296-460/- and Rs.340-490/-with effect from 1.3.1977 along with pay fixation benefits in accordance with F.D. letter No. 4144 dated 16.3.1977.

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