1. There appears, on the face of it, to be so much vacillation, in the stance of the petitioner in the present case from time to time, that it would probably be best to “start at the beginning, and, when we come to the end, stop” – to borrow the timely advice of the Mad Hatter to Alice.

The Facts

2. This writ petition is directed against an Award, dated 27th June 2003, of the learned Industrial Tribunal, Karkardooma (hereinafter referred to as “the learned Tribunal”). Inasmuch as the other applicants, before the learned Tribunal, have not chosen to challenge the impugned Award, the recital of facts hereinafter, shall be limited to the case of the petitioner. The petitioner was one of four Draftsmen, employed by the respondent-Corporation, who initialized the industrial dispute wherefrom the present proceedings emanate. There is, however, considerable road to be covered, before we reach the stage of such initialization.

3. The story, in a way, starts with the agitation, by Draftsmen, in the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), for enhancement/upward revision in the s