J U D G M E N T Dated this the 20^th day of February, 2026 The petitioner was engaged by the Kerala Forest Research Institution since the year 1991. The petitioner was regularised in service only with effect from 24.02.2012 as Driver (Grade-I). The petitioner states that the 10^th Pay Commission recommendation came into force from the year

2017.

2. However, the respondents declined to grant the petitioner the benefit of the 10^th Pay Revision Commission Pay Scale stating that there is no seal of approval of the Government for regularisation of the petitioner as Driver (Grade-II) in the year 2012. Aggrieved by the stand taken by the respondents, similarly situated persons filed W.P.(C) No.41113 of 2017. The writ petition was disposed of as per Ext.P5 judgment dated 13.05.2022. In Ext.P5, this Court found that the Council which took the decision for regularisation of the service has, as its members Chief Minister, Minister and Secretaries of various Departments. Pursuant to Ext.P5 judgment, the Council decided to extend the benefits of the 10^th Pay Revision to the petitioner as per Ext.P6 order dated 20.06.2022 observing that the petitioner is holding a substantive post.

3. The petitioner