JUDGMENT :

T.R. RAVI, J.

1. The original petition has been filed by the State and its Officers who were respondents in O.A. No. 1365/2018 on the file of Kerala Administrative Tribunal, Thiruvananthapuram (hereinafter referred to as the Tribunal). The respondent was the applicant before the Tribunal and the application had been filed challenging the directions to recover amounts which had been paid to him as pay and allowances excessively, from the DCRG payable to him.

2. The respondent entered the service as Second Grade Draftsman on 19.7.1983. The First Time Bound Higher Grade was sanctioned to him on 19.7.1993 on completion of 10 years of service. Thereafter, the respondent was appointed as First Grade Draftsman in the departmental quota, by direct recruitment through the Public Service Commission, on 11.7.1996. The Second Time Bound Higher Grade was sanctioned to the respondent on 19.07.2001 on completion of 18 years of service, including the service rendered as Second Grade Draftsman. The Third Time Bound Higher Grade was sanctioned to the respondent on 18.07.2006 on completion of 23 years of service, again including the service rendered as Second Grade Draftsman.

3. An audit objec