ORDER

By Dr. Chhabilendra Roul, Member (A)

The present OA has been filed by the applicants, 36 in number, under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 seeking the following relief:

“i) To declare the action of the respondents in not granting the Grade Pay of Rs.4600 in PB-II 9300-34800, to the applicants as illegal, arbitrary and unjustified and direct the respondents to grant Grade Pay of Rs.4600 in PB-II to the applicants with all consequential benefits from the date of completion of 20 years of regular service.

ii) To direct the respondents to grant grade pay scale of Rs.9300-34800 with grade pay of Rs.4600 to the applicants on the date of completion of 20 years of service to be counted from initial appointment.”

2. Factual Matrix

2.1 The applicants joined with the respondents as Workmen (semi-skilled) on various dates in 1987. They moved in the hierarchy of Fitter Skilled Grade, Fitter(I)/ HS-II, Fitter (I)/HS -(II), Fitter(I)/MCM, Chargeman- II/Tech-Mechanical, JWM/ Tech Mechanical before their retirement. A sample description of Applicant No.1 was furnished by the le