JUDGMENT :

MANMOHAN, J.

1. Present writ petition has been filed seeking quashing of pay fixation orders of the petitioners upon their promotion to the rank of Sub-Inspector CRPF through LDCE to the extent that the said pay fixation orders fixed the pay of the petitioners incorrectly at Rs.9300-34800 + Grade pay of Rs.4200/- and to re-fix the pay of the petitioners in the pre-revised pay structure being Rs.10230-34800 + Grade Pay of Rs.4200/- as per the option form submitted by them in a time bound manner as per instructions laid down by the DOPT to ensure career progression along with all the consequential benefits and arrears as due to them.

2. In the alternative, the petitioners pray for a direction to the respondents to grant similar relief as was granted to similarly situated personnel of the Force by this Court in the case of Braham Prakash Vs. Union of India; W.P.(C) No.3636/2016 and connected matters vide judgment dated 16thOctober, 2018.

3. Mr.Ankur Chhibber, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the LDCE is only a method of promotion and therefore, the appointment of the petitioners as Sub-Inspector by way of LDCE has to necessarily be treated as a promotion and not