P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, J.

1. Whether stepping up of pay of the seniors is to be effected as a matter of course, merely for the reason that some of them were fortunate enough in obtaining reliefs from different Tribunals to have it stepped up to be on par with the salary of the so called junior, who actually was already receiving a higher pay in the lower scale by virtue of having obtained promotion to the post of Selection Grade Auditor and also by virtue of his longer tenure in service, is the point to be considered in this Original Petition. It is also a matter for consideration, as to whether the specific points/pleadings raised from the part of the petitioners in their reply statement in this regard, with reference to the mandate of stepping up envisaged under Rule 22-C of the Fundamental Rules, were considered by the Tribunal while passing the order under challenge, but for making a reference to similar benefits extended by the Bangalore and Chennai Benches of the Tribunal.

2. The respondents herein approached the CAT - Ernakulam, by filing O.A. No. 954 of 2010 with the following prayers:

(i) To direct the respondents to fix the pay of the applicants on par with that o