JUDGMENT

Sandeep Mehta, J. - The petitioner has approached this court through this petition under Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India for assailing the order dated 20.02.2020 passed by the learned Central Administrative Tribunal, Jodhpur Bench, Jodhpur rejecting the Original Application No. 290/00286/2013 filed by the petitioner on the ground of limitation.

2. Brief facts relevant and essential for disposal of the writ petition are noted herein below:-

3. The petitioner was initially appointed in the respondent Railways as Khallasi on 25.12.1958. He was given officiating appointment on the post of Mason Grade-III on 04.02.1975 and was regularized on the said post w.e.f. 04.05.1990. The respondents introduced a scheme named Assured Career Progression Scheme (for short, 'ACP Scheme') with effect from 01.10.1999. The scheme proposed a safety net to deal with the problem of stagnation and hardships faced by the employees due to lack of promotional avenues. It was proposed to grant financial up gradation under the ACP Scheme to Group B, C and D employees on completion of 12 and 24 years of service, in case no regular promotion had been granted to such employee. The petitioner