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2026 Supreme(Online)(CAT) 3539
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
M Swaminathan, Judicial Member, M L Srivastava, Administrative Member
M Raja Climax – Appellant
Versus
Union of India – Respondent
OA
Important Points
Subject
Service Law - Pay Scales and Parity
Act Referred
Constitution of India: Art.14
Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1997
Headnote
(B) Service Law - Parity and Equality - Article 14 of Constitution - Similarly situated employees must be treated alike; benefit granted to one group via judicial orders or anomaly committee extends to others without discrimination - Fence-sitters not denied relief merely for delay when issue recurs in pay/pension fixation - Dismissal of SLPs without speaking order does not negate parity principle. (Paras 32, 33, 35)
(C) Limitation - Section 21(3) Administrative Tribunals Act - No condonation application needed where cause continues; subsequent implementations and final judicial affirmations provide basis without reviving stale claim - Doctrine of laches inapplicable to equality claims. (Paras 30, 31)
Facts of the case:
Applicant, Inspector promoted to Superintendent, retired in 2014, challenged Office Memoranda fixing upgraded pay scales from 21.04.2004 instead of 01.01.1996 per 5th Pay Commission, seeking parity with CBDT employees granted notional benefits w.e.f. 01.01.1996 via Special Anomaly Committee; respondents contested on limitation, personam judgments, and policy finality.
Findings of Court:
Impugned orders set aside; respondents directed to refix pay notionally w.e.f. 01.01.1996 and grant actual monetary benefits from 21.04.2004 with arrears and consequential pensionary benefits within two months.
Issues: Entitlement to notional pay fixation w.e.f. 01.01.1996; applicability of parity despite delay/laches; personam vs. in rem nature of precedents; limitation under Section 21.
Ratio Decidendi: Similarly situated employees across Department of Revenue entitled to uniform pay revision benefits w.e.f. 01.01.1996 notionally per anomaly rectification and affirmed judgments; Article 14 mandates parity, overriding delay objections in recurring pay matters; prior orders in rem bind department.
Result: Original Application allowed.
For the Appellants/Petitioners: M/s P. Ayyamperumal
For the Respondents: Mr. J. Vasu
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. applicant's service history and pay scale revision issue. (Para 2) |
| 2. precedents support pay revision from 01.01.1996. (Para 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12) |
| 3. oa barred by limitation and laches. (Para 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19) |
| 4. history of anomaly committee and judicial affirmations. (Para 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28) |
| 5. equality mandates benefits for similarly situated employees. (Para 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37) |
| 6. notional pay from 1996, actual from 2004. (Para 38 , 39 , 40) |
| 7. oa allowed with specified directions. (Para 41) |
ORDER
(Pronounced by Hon'ble Mr. M. Swaminathan, Judicial Member)
The applicant has filed the OA seeking the following relief:
“A) ….To call for records and proceedings of the case which led to the passing of the orders i.e (i) Office Memorandum in File No.6/37/98-IC dated 21.04.2004 ie Annexure -A1 and (ii) Office Memorandum in File No.26017/65/2003-Ad.II-A(Pt) dated 11.05.2004 i.e Annexure A.2 its subsequent (latest) Office Memorandum in File No. A.26017/65/2003-Ad.II-A(Pt)25.07.2023 i.e Annexure A3 and after going though their propriety, legality and constitutional validity be pleased to quash and set aside the same only to the extent it makes the revised pay scale effective from 21.04.2004 instead of 01.01.1996, with further directions to the respondents to grant the benefit of revised scale/grade w.e.f. 01.01.1996 with further directions to the respondents to grant the benefit of revised pay scale/grade w.e.f. 01.01.1996 with appropriate pay fixation and pension fixation and actual benefit i.e. grant of Rs.6500-10500 w.e.f. 01.01.1996 to Inspector (Applicant) (Central Excise & Customs) and Rs.7500-12000/- wef 01.01.1996 to Superintendent (Central Excise & Customs) along with actual arrears of pay(consequential benefits) with 18% interest thereon.
B) To hold and declare that the impugned action of the respondents to revise and pay scale from 21.04.2004 (Annexure-A1) is absolutely arbitrary and illegal and accordingly hold, declare and direct the respondents that the Inspector and Superintendent(Central Excise) are entitled to the revised pay scales of Rs.6500-10500 w.e.f.01.01.1996 to Inspector (Central Excise) and Rs.7500-12000/- w.e.f. 01.01.1996 to Superintendent(Central Excise) with all consequential benefits i.e proper pay fixation,Pension fixation and actual arrears of salary, Pension and other retiral dues with 18% interest thereon
C) Any other and further additional orders as this Hon'ble Tribunal deems fit and proper in the naturaland circumstances of the case may be passed.
D) Cost of the application be provided for.”
2. The facts leading to the filing of the case are as follows:
The applicant joined as Inspector in the Central Excise on 12.10.1978 and promoted to the post of Superintendent on 01.07.1996 and and retired as such on superannuation on 31.05.2014. Subsequently, he was promoted as Assistant Commissioner w.e.f. 01.04.2013 by an order dated 18.09.2024. Prior to 01.01.1996, the pay scale of Inspectors/Preventive Officers/Customs Examiners was Rs. 1640–2900. On promotion to the post of Superintendent/Appraiser, the applicable pay scale was Rs. 2000– 3500. Upon implementation of the recommendations of the 5th Central Pay Commission, the pay scale of Inspectors/Customs Examiners/Preventive Officers was revised to Rs. 6500–10500, and that of Superintendents/Appraisers was revised to Rs. 7500–12000. However, the revised pay scales were made effective from 21.04.2004 instead of 01.01.1996, the date on which the recommendations of the 5th Central Pay Commission came into effect. Despite various decisions rendered by Tribunals and High Courts across the country, and finally by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the benefit of the revised pay scales of Rs. 6500–10500 for Inspectors/Customs Examiners/Preventive Officers and Rs. 7500– 12000 for Superintendents/Appraisers were denied to the applicant. Hence, the OA for the aforementioned relief.
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