JUDGMENT

Rekha Palli, J. (Oral) - The present petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India seeks to assail the order dated 28.11.2016 passed by the learned Central Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal) in O.A. No.3684/2013. Vide the impugned order, the learned Tribunal has allowed the O.A. preferred by the respondent by directing the petitioners to extend the benefit of Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACP) to the respondent w.e.f. 01.09.2008 as against 21.09.2010, vide which the said benefit was extended to him by the petitioners as per the order dated 19.07.2012.

2. The respondent, who was the applicant before the learned Tribunal, joined the Central Water Commission (CWC) as a Research Assistant on 16.11.1972 and was working with the Central Soil & Material Research Station (CSMRS), which was in 1981 delinked from the CWC and placed directly under the Ministry of Water Resources. Based on his seniority and performance, the respondent was promoted to the post of Assistant Research Officer on 15.05.1987, and thereafter to the post of Research Officer (later re-designated as Scientist `B') on 21.09.2000. Even though the respondent thereafter became eligib