JUDGMENT

These writ petitions are filed by Ex-Servicemen re-employed in the erstwhile State Bank of Travancore, which got merged in State Bank of India(SBI), SBI and Reserve Bank of India. The grievance of the petitioners in these cases is regarding the fixation of their pay on re-employment. On account of the inconsistent stand that was being adopted by the respondents, they were faced with proceedings for recovery from their pay. As the issue arising is common, all these writ petitions are disposed of by this common judgment. Parties and documents referred to in this judgment are as described in W.P.(C) No. 8553 of 2017 unless otherwise specified.

2. All the petitioners except those in W.P.(C)

Nos.32143 of 2015, 14318 of 2015 retired from the armed forces subsequent to 2006 and got reemployment in the SBI/erstwhile SBT/RBI. While serving in the Armed Forces, the petitioners were getting Grade Pay, X Pay, MSP (Military Service Pay), Dearness Allowance, GCB (Good Conduct Badge) Pay, etc as can be seen from Ext.P1 last pay certificate of first petitioner therein. Petitioners claim that on re-employment, their pay was originally fixed, protecting their last pay drawn in the armed force