2026 Supreme(Online)(CAT) 1761
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
Arun N Kamat – Appellant
Versus
Department Of Posts – Respondent
O.A./253/2025
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O.A.No.170/00253/2025/CAT/BANGALORE
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
BANGALORE BENCH, BENGALURU
ORIGINAL APPLICATION NO.170/00253/2025
DATED THIS THE 05th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
CORAM:
HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE S. SUJATHA, MEMBER (J)
HON’BLE DR. SANJIV KUMAR, MEMBER (A)
Sri. Arun N.Kamat
S/O Narayan N.Kamat
Age 51 years
Working as Office of Superintendent of Post offices
Bellary (Div)
Bellary-583102.
Residing at- P and T Quarters Type II NO 7
Near T.B. Sanatorium
Opposite to Little Flower School
Cont Zone, Bellary-583104. …Applicant
(By Advocate Shri.P.Kamalesan)
Vs.
1. The Union of India Rep by Secretary,
Dept of Post, Dak Bhawan,
New Delhi-110001.
2. Chief Post Master General,
Karnataka Circle,
Bangalore-560001.
3. Post Master General,
North Karnataka Region,
Dharwad-580001.
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O.A.No.170/00253/2025/CAT/BANGALORE
4. Superintendent of Post Offices,
Bellary Div,
Bellary-583102 …Respondents
(By Advocate Shri. S.Prakash Shetty)
O R D E R (ORAL)
PER: JUSTICE S. SUJATHA, MEMBER (J)
This Original Application is filed under Section 19 of the
Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 claiming the following reliefs:
“(A) Quash the letter No NKR/STA-2/121/2024 Dated
12.11.2024, at Annexure A-7.Issued by Respondent No-3.
(B) Consequently Direct the Respondents to grant Grade Pay of
Rs.5400, to the applicant from 01.01.2020 with all consequential
benefit.
(C) Grant any other relief as deemed fit into the facts and
circumstances of the case in the interest of justice.”
2. The facts in brief are that the applicant appeared for the Inspector
of Posts Examination during the year 2012 and was promoted as
Inspector of Posts with grade pay of Rs.4600/- notionally from
14.06.2013. He was granted grade pay of Rs.4800/- from 01.01.2016
and claims to be eligible for grant of grade pay of Rs.5400/- from
01.01.2020, as per Government of India Resolution dated 29.08.2008.
The representations submitted by the applicant in this regard were
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O.A.No.170/00253/2025/CAT/BANGALORE
rejected by the office of the Post Master General, North Karnataka
Region Dharwad – 580 001 vide letter dated 12.11.2024 on the plea that
the DSC meeting held on 17.09.2024, not recommended the case as the
officer was not a member of IP/ASP Association as on 22.07.2021.
Being aggrieved, the applicant has preferred this Original Application.
3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant would submit that
the issue involved herein is squarely covered by the order passed by this
Tribunal in O.A No.170/00206/2024 dated 20.12.2024
[A.B.Kantharaja and Others v. Union of India and Others] wherein
the order dated 01.10.2024 passed by this Bench in O.A
No.170/00524/2023 has been followed. Accordingly, seeks for the
reliefs claimed.
4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents does not dispute
the same.
5. Heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the
materials on record.
6. In O.A No.170/00524/2023 (Shri.Puttaswamy v. Union of India
and Others), this Tribunal considering the identical issue, observed
thus:
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O.A.No.170/00253/2025/CAT/BANGALORE
“5. Having heard the learned Counsel for the parties
and perusing the material on record, it is not in dispute that
the applicant was in ASPO pay scale with Grade Pay of
Rs.4800/- subsequent to the recommendation of VII CPC
with effect from 01.01.2016. The applicant on completion of
four years of service in the Grade Pay of Rs.4800/-, made a
request for grant of nonfunctional Grade Pay of Rs.5400/-
and the same has been turned down on the ground that the
applicant was not a member of the Association as on the
date of consideration, having regard to the orders passed
by CAT, Hyderabad Bench and Writ Petition
No.43155/2022 before the Hon’ble High Court of
Telangana.
6. CAT, Hyderabad Bench in OA No.506/2021 dated
02.12.2021 directed the respondents to grant Grade Pay of
Rs.5400/- to the applicants therein from the date