1. In addition to a single petitioner in C.W.J.C. No. 9719 of 2001, there are altogether 43 petitioners in the rest of the cases in this batch. The petitioners are Assistant teachers in nationalised high schools. By the orders coming under challenge in these cases the petitioners are told that they were allowed the first time bound promotion much in advance of the due dates in their respective cases; that the dates from which they were given the first time bound promotion is incorrect; that each of the petitioners became entitled to the first time bound promotion from the dates which were much later than the respective dates from which the benefit of time bound promotion was given to them. Consequently, their monthly salary will be refixed and will be paid to them on the condition that they either refund the excess amounts paid to them in one lump sum or give undertaking to refund the excess amounts in certain specified instalments.

2. Before proceeding further it is necessary to state that the decision to review the first time bound promotion allowed to the petitioners, a number of years ago, was taken on the basis of the objections raised by the Audit team from the office