1. The petitioners are aggrieved by the judgment dated 16.11.2017, passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal allowing O.A. No. 3743/2013, filed by the respondent whereunder, they have been directed to consider the past service rendered by him under ‘Rashtriya Mahila Kosh’ for granting him financial benefits under the MACP Scheme and thereafter pass consequential orders within sixty days from the date of the receipt of the said order.

2. At the outset, it may be noted that it has taken more than nine months for the petitioner No.2/EPFO to challenge the impugned judgment and that too after a notice of contempt has been served on them by the respondent.

3. The matter has a chequered history. In October, 2013, the respondent had filed an Original Application before the Tribunal praying inter alia for directions to the petitioners to treat the period of service rendered by him in the ‘Rashtriya Mahila Kosh’, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi, towards qualifying period for granting the benefit of the MACP Scheme, in terms of the clarifications dated 01.11.2010, issued by the petitioner No.3/DoPT. On completion of the pleadings in the said origina