Pradeep Nandrajog, J.

1. Directly recruited in the grade of Sub-Inspector in the Railway Protection Force (‘RPF’ for short) the petitioners have challenged the letter dated January 22, 2010 issued by the Railway Board, in which letter parameters for grant of financial upgradation to the employee of RPF under the Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) are prescribed. Petitioners have also prayed for a direction that the respondents should grant second financial upgradation under MACPS in the next Pay Band applicable to the post of Assistant Security Commissioner i.e. Pay Band-3 with Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- and next, viz. 3rd financial upgradation with Grade Pay of Rs. 6600/-.

2. Prior to the implementation of the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission, Sub-Inspectors in RPF were directly recruited in the then pay scale of Rs. 4500-7000. The 5th Central Pay Commission introduced the Assured Career Progression Scheme (ACP), which envisaged two financial upgradations as per DOP&T O.M. dated August 09, 1999 : (i) after completion of 12 years of service; an