ORDER

1. Special leave granted, in all these proceedings. With consent of counsel, this batch of appeals was heard finally.

2. In all these appeals, the common question which arises is whether the reasoning adopted by the Delhi High Court to hold, and direct that the Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (“MACP”) had to be applied from 01-01-2006, is correct. The appellant, Delhi Development Authority (hereafter called “DDA” or “the employer”) is primarily aggrieved by the ruling of the Delhi High Court ¹[Delivered on 9 January, 2020 in WP 5927/2018, WP 5932/2018 and WP 476/2019]. Some of the successful petitioners (respondents in those proceedings, hereafter called “the employees”), have also appealed to this court, contending that the High Court’s directions were not correct and seek a modification of the relief granted by the impugned judgment. The DDA has preferred another appeal against a subsequent order ²[ Dated 11.02.2020, in WP. 528/2017] which followed the previous order (dated 9th January, 2020).

Relevant facts

3. The Government of India introduced the Assured Career Progression Scheme (in short, ACP Scheme), by an office memorandum, in August, 1999³[ OM dated 09.08.199