JUDGMENT :

ASHWANI KUMAR MISHRA, J.

1. All the four petitioners have superannuated from Railway Protection Force, on 30th June, 2019 from the post of Inspector/Sub-Inspector/Assistant Sub-Inspector and Head Constable, respectively. They claim to have worked for the entire year i.e. 1.7.2018 to 30.6.2019, with good conduct and have thus raised a claim for grant of annual increment for the year 2018-19. Annual increment for the year 2018-19, however, fell due under the relevant rules only on 1.7.2019, by when the petitioners had superannuated. Their claim has consequently been rejected by the Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force, North Central Railway, Allahabad vide orders dated 24.2.2020, 27.1.2020 and 2.3.2020. These orders are challenged in the present writ petition.

2. A counter affidavit and later a supplementary-counter affidavit has been filed in the matter on behalf of the respondents, to which a rejoinder affidavit has been filed by the writ petitioners. With the consent of learned counsel for the parties this petition is taken up for final disposal, at the admission stage itself. I have heard Sri. J.N. Singh, learned counsel for the petitioners an