Holding

Because the CWC draftsmen’s recruitment qualifications were not on par with CPWD draftsmen until 1987, the limited relief granted by the Tribunal was the maximum permissible and no further retrospective pay‑scale benefit could be awarded.

Summary

The appellants, draftsmen of the Central Water Commission (CWC), claimed that they should receive the same retrospective pay‑scale revisions granted to draftsmen of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) under the 13 March 1984 Government Office Memorandum. They argued that both groups performed similar work and, after 1987, had comparable qualifications, invoking the constitutional principles of equality (Arts. 14, 16, 39). The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) gave them limited relief – applying the 1984 memorandum from May 1982 onward – but refused the earlier retroactive benefit sought. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the Tribunal erred in denying the earlier benefit and whether the memorandum should be extended further. It held that the CWC draftsmen’s recruitment qualifications differed from those of CPWD draftsmen until 1987, and that such a difference justified the limited relief; the Tribunal’s order was therefore affirmed and no additional benefit could be granted. The appeal was dismissed.

Issues considered

Whether the Tribunal erred in not granting CWC draftsmen the revised pay scales notionally from 1 January 1973 to 16 November 1978 and actually from 16 November 1978 to 13 May 1982.
Whether the 1984 Government Office Memorandum was applied inconsistently to similarly situated draftsmen in other departments, thereby entitling the appellants to further retrospective benefit.
Whether a difference in educational/recruitment qualifications bars parity of pay under Articles 14, 16 and 39 of the Constitution.

Legislation cited

Constitution of Indias. Article 14, s. Article 16, s. Article 39

Subjects

equal pay for equal workservice paritypay scale revisionconstitutional equalityArticle 14Article 16Article 39Central Administrative Tribunalretrospective benefit

Judgment

NAIN SINGH BHAKUNI AND ORS. A
- ~·
'

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

JANUARY 8, 1998

[S.B.MAJMUDAR,S.SAGHIRAHMEDANDM.JAGANNADHARAO.JJ.] B

Constitution of India, 1950-Artic/es 14, 16 and 39-Service-Parity
of Pay-Scales-Disparity in educational qualifications between two sets of
employees-Appel/ants, draftsman working in Central Water Commission C
(CWC) and draftsmen in CPWD doing similar type of work-Held, no parity
of treatment in giving benefit of retrospective revision of pay scales to CPWD
drajismen and not to CWC-Service law.

Article I 6-Tribunal granting relief in separate fact situations to.
Employees in other department who were similarly circumscribed as draftsmen D
in C.P. WD-Cannot be pressed in service almost automatically by the
appellant in peculiar facts of the case wherein they are not similarly situated
as their counters parts in C.P. IVD.

Article 136-Appeal-Discrimination regarding extension of
retrospective benefit of pay scales-Not canvassed for consideration-Raises E
disputed question of fact-Such questions cannot be raised before Supreme
Court for the first time.

The draftsmen in Grades I, II and Ill in CWC and CPWD were enjoying
identical pay scales form 1st January, 1947 to 20th June, 1980. However,
the pay scales of draftsmen of CPWD were revised upwards on 20th June, F
1980 giving effect notionally from 1st January, 1973 and benefit of arrears
from 28th and 29th July, 1978 The appellants Employed in CWC made
number of representations to the Respondent authorities Claiming parity
The Government of India issued Office Memorandum on 13th March, I 984,
whereby all draftsmen Grade. I, II and III working in all the Government
Departments similarly qualified were required to be placed and given revised G
pay scales. This was with effect from 1st May, 1982 notionally from 16th
November, 1978 and actually from 1st November, 1983 in view of the award
given by the Board of Arbitrator to CPWD Draftsmen in 1980. Thereafter
as per amendment of Recruitment Rules on 27th November, 1987 pay scale
of appellants were revised and brought at par with CPWD from 9th November, H
41
42 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1998] I S.C.R.

A 1987 with qualification also at Par.
The appellants prayed before CAT, that benefit of pay scales should be
gi;,en to them from 1st January, 1973 instead of 9th November, 1997 partly
notionally and subsequently actually and they were extended the actual and
notional benefit of pay scale as per Official Memorandum of 13. 3. 1984.
B
In appeal to this court it was contended on behalf of the appellants that
the notional benefit of revised pay scales of draftsmen from 1st January,
1973 to 16th November, 1978 instead of from 13th May, 1982 to 31st
October, 1983 be given to them.

C Dismissing the appeal, this Court

HELD: I. There was clear-cut difference in recruitment qualifications
between the two sets of employees in CPWD on the one hand and CWC on
the other and thus there cannot be any automatic linkage and parity of
D treatment for retrospective revision of pay scales. The tribunal was right in
considering the equities of the case granting to the appellant the benefits of
Office Memorandum of 1984 for retrospective revision of pay scales from
1987 as the educational qualifications were brought on par so far as the
appellants were concerned as compared to their counter parts in CPWD.

E VOi & Ors. v. Debashu Kar & Ors., (1995) Supp. 3 SCC 528, referred
to.

Jaspal & Ors. v. State of Haryana & Ors. etc .. [1988) 3 SCC 354,
distinguished. [52-F-G; B-C]

F 2. The judicial orders passed against employees in other departments
on the basis of separate fact situations which were found established in their
cases by the Tribunal cannot be pressed in service almost automatically by
the appellant in the peculiar facts of the present case wherein they are not
similarly situated as their counter parts in CPWD. [:56-B)

G 3. The contention as to discrimination regarding extension of
retrospective benefit of pay scale was never canvassed for consideration
before the tribunal. Therefore, the disputed question of fact for consideration
for the first time could not be raised before this court. [55 E-G)
j

4. The relief was given to CPWD draftsmen by the Board of Arbitrators
H and was accepted by the authorities and if this relief became available to the
NAIN SINGH BHAKUNI v. U.0.1. [S.B. MAJMUDAR, J.] 43

appellants who were identicaily situated and were doing same type of work A
as draftsmen in other departments of Government. The question whether
they had gone for similar arbitrator or not would pale into insignificance.
[50 B-C]

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 2985 of 1991.
B
From the Judgment and Order dated 21.2.91 of the Central Administrative
Tribunal, New Delhi in Original Application No. I of 1989.

M.N. Krishnamani and P. Narasimhan for the AppeIIants.

N.N. Goswami (Ms. Binu Tamta) for Mrs. Anil Katiyar for the C
Respondents.

The following Order of the Court was delivered by :

S.B. MAJMUDAR, J. This appeal by grant of special leave under
-<: Article 136 of the Constitution of India has brought in challenge the judgment D
and order rendered by the Central Administrative Tribunal. Principal Bench
at New Delhi in 0.A. No. I of 1989, filed by the 429 original applicants before
the Tribunal insofar as the Tribunal, as not granted them full relief as prayed
for therein. In order to appreciate the grievance of these appellants it will be
necessary to note a few introductory facts.
E
Background facts

The appellants are working as Draftsmen in the Central Water
Commission ('CWC') for short). It is not in dispute that the said Commission
is functioning under the Ministry of Water Resources Government of India. F
According to these appellants the Third Pay Commission appointed by the
Central Government has observed that the pay scales allowed to the Draftsmen
were rather low and they were required to be upgraded as per the
recommendations of the said Commission. The case of the appellants is that
upto 20th June 1980 the draftsmen in Grades I, II and Ill in CWC and Central
Public Works Department ('CPWD' for short) were enjoying identical pay G
scales from !st January 1947 to 20th June 1980 on the basis of First,. Second
and Third pay Commission's recommendations. However the pay scales of
draftsmen of CPWD were revised upwards on 20th June 1980 giving effect
nationally from 1st January 1973 and actual benefits of arrears from 28th and
29th July 1978. The appellants contend that they were doing similar type of H
44 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1998] I S.C.R.

A work as draftsmen in CPWD and they were also entitled to the similar treatment
and revised pay scales, notional and actual, on the same lines as those
granted to their counterpart draftsmen in CPWD. They made number of
r' 1
representations to the respondent authorities. But they were of no avail. The
recruitment rules of appellants were revised somewhere in 1982. The respondent
B authorities constituted a sub-committee for the purpose of Cadre Review of
Draftsman cadre in CWC. According to the appellants the sub-committee
recommended th~t the anomaly created regarding the pay scales of Draftsmen
in CWC as compared to Draftsmen in the CPWD shall be rectified and be
brought at par with the pay scales awarded by the Board of Arbitration to
CPWD draftsmen. But despite these recommendations nothing happened.
C Ultimately Ministry of Finance issued a Memorandum on 13th March 1984.
According to it all draftsmen Grade I, II and Ill working in all the Government
Departments similarly qualified were required to be placed and given revised
pay scales with effect from 1st May 1982 in view of the award given by the
Board of Arbitration to CPWD Draftsmen in 1980. That thereafter the
Recruitment Rules of draftsmen were amended on 27th November 1987 and
D consequently the pay scales of the appellants were revised and brought at
par with CPWD draftsmen from 9th November 1987. The appellants grievance
is that the parity of pay scales should have been given to them on the same
lines on which benefit of revised pay scales was given to the CPWD draftsmen
from :!st January 1973 partly nationally and subsequently actually. The
E appellants, therefore represented that their pay scales should be revised on
the same lines as the revised pay scales of CP\VD draftsmen with effect from
1st January 1973 instead of from 9th November 1987. As their representation
remained abortive the appellants moved the Central Administrative Tribunal
in the aforesaid 0.A. No.1 of 1989. The relief which the prayed for was to the
effect that the applicants may be given revised pay scales with effect from
F
I st January 1973 instead of 9th November 1987 as ordered to be paid by the
respondents. The said prayer was based on the ground that the draftsmen
Grade !,II and llI in CWC were discharging similar type of duties as the
draftsmen in CPWD and that their qualifications were also substantially
similar and consequently they were entitled to be given the same treatment
G regarding revised pay scales as was given to their counterparts in CPWD. The
Tribunal after hearing the parties came to the conclusion in paragraph 9 of
the impugned judgment that it is not necessary for the posts in question to
be exactly identical for allotment of the same scale of pay. All that is required
is that the responsibilities and duties attached to the posts should be broadly
H comparable and similar in nature. The Tribunal further noted that the recruitment
NAIN SINGH BHAKUNI v. U.0.1. [S.B. MAJMUDAR, J.] 45

qualifications of the draftsmen in ewe were brought at par with draftsmen A
in CPWD from 9th November 1987 as by that date the conditions of
qualifications were relaxed. In this connection the Tribunal noted two salient
features' emerg!ng on the record of the case . Firstly it was observed that
CPWD draftsmen were awarded notional revision of pay scales from I st
January 1973 and arrears from 28th/29th July 1978 in view of the award of the
Board of Arbitration before which the dispute raised by the CPWD draftsmen B
)'- was placed for adjudication. There was no such development so far as the
CWC draftsmen were concerned. The second distinguishing feature noted by
the Tribunal was that the respondent authorities on account of the O.M dated
13th March 1984 issued by the Ministry of Finance had granted revision of
pay scales notionally from 13th May 1982 to draftsmen in other Government C
departments with benefit of actual payment with effect from !st November
1983. Accordingly similar benefit was made available to the appellants by the
Tribunal. As noted earlier the appellants being partly aggrieved by the aforesaid
decision in their O.A. have filed the present appeal on grant of special leave
to appeal seeking notional benefit of revised pay scales of draftsmen from I st
January 1973 to 16th November 1978 instead of from 13th May 1982 to 31st D
October 1983 as granted by the Tribunal. Their further claim is about actual
benefits of arrears of revised pay scales to be given to them not from I st
November 1983 as granted by the Tribunal but from 16th November 1978 upto
13th May 1982. We may mention at this stage that in the meantime the
respondent authorities had also moved a cross-Special Leave Petition No. E
I 0992 of 1991 being aggrieved by that part of the judgment and order of the
Tribunal by which the aforesaid limited relief was granted to the appellants.
A Bench of this Court by order dated 26th July 1991 granted special leave
to appeal to the petitioners in S.L.P. (C} No. 11268 of 1991 out of which the
present appeal arises and directed that the said appeal be tagged on with
S.L.P,(C) No. 10992of1991 moved by the respondents against the very same F
impugned judgment. Leave was granted on 22nd July 1991, in that Special
Leave Petition also and it was registered as Civil Appeal No. 2936 of 1991.
Both the appeals, therefore, were to be heard simultaneously. When the
hearing of these appeals earlier reached before a Bench of this Court in
January 1995 learned counsel for the appellants stated that several authorities G
had granted identical relief from !st January 1973 and pay from 1978 to
similarly situated draftsmen. The counsel of the Union of India was, therefore,
directed to look into the matter and see if the statement was accurate so ihat
uniformity was maintained. Thereafter when these appeals reached for further
final hearing before this Court on 8th April 1997 cross-Civil Appeal No.2936 H
46 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1998] l S.C.R.

A of 1991 was not pressed by learned counsel for the respondents who stated
that the impugned order of the Tribunal was already implemented and there
was a decision of this Court in the case of Union of India and others v.
Debashis kar and others, (1995] Supp. 3 SCC 528 which clearly got attracted
against the present respondents who were the appellants in that cross-appeal.
B Therefore, thereafter there remained in the arena of contest only the present
civil appeal.

In this appeal Under Secretary, Central Water Commission has filed
counter affidavit on behalf of respondent no l on. 2nd November 1992. We
will refer to this counter hereinafter. A further affidavit was also filed on behalf
C of respondent no. I in comp Iiance with direction of this Court issued on 9th
January 1995 and reiterated a latter order of this Court dated 8th April 1997
wherein the respondents were required to put on record with affidavit whatever
material they might have collected in connection with the uniformity of pay
scales granted to draftsmen in other Government departments. The appellants
in their turn have filed reply-affidavit of appellant no. I on behalf of the
D appellants.
When this appeal reached further hearing before this Court on 12th
November 1997 we were informed that judgment in the case of Debashis Kar
(supra) which has been relied upon by this Court in dismissing the respondents
E cross-appeal against the very same judgment of the Tribunal insofar as the
relie1· was granted to the appellants is pending scrutiny before the larger
Bench of three learned Judges. Consequently this appeal was adjourned
awaiting the decision of the larger Bench. Subsequently it was brought to our
notice that the larger Bench by its decision dated 2nd December 1997 dismissed
those referred Civil Appeal Nos. 11477-11479of1995 and reiterated the decision
F of this Court in the case ofDebashis Kar (supra). Three Judge Bench confirmed
the decision of the Tribunal in the impugned judgments before them by k
observing that the Tribunal had taken into consideration educational
qualifications for the. posts of Draftsmen Grade ll and Grade Ill in the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Draftsmen Grade I and
11 in the CPWD and held that the appellants in DRDO were not entitled to
G the same pay scales. It was also observed that after considering the
qualifications which were prescribed for appointment for the post of Draftsmen
Grade II and Grade III in the DRDO and comparing the same with the
qualifications prescribed for the posts of Draftsmen Grade Ill, Grade JI and
Grade I, this court was of the view that the Tribunal had rightly negatived
H the claim of the appellants before them . All the appeals were accordingly
NAIN SINGH BHAKUNI v. U.0.1. [S.B. MAJMUDAR, J.] 47
dismissed. Thereafter when this appeal reached further hearing before us A
learned senior counsel for the appellants Shri M.N. Krishnamani as well as
~ - -<;
learned senior counsel for he respondents Shri N.N. Goswami raised the
following contentions in support of their respective cases.

Rival Contentions
' B
>• Shri Krishnamani learned senior counsel for the appellants, submitted
in support of the appeal that the Tribunal had already come to the conclusion
on facts that the draftsmen in CWC were carrying on the similar type of work
as their counterparts in CPWD. It has also observed that from I 987 their
qualifications were also brought on par. In fact according to the learned senior
counsel for the appellants the pay scales of the draftsmen in CWC were at
c
par with those in CPWD at least from l st January 1947 to 20th June I 980 and
thereafter even though the pay scales of draftsmen grades I,Il and III in
CPWD got revised upwards and the pay scales of the appellants remained the
same by 1987 they were also brought on par. Therefore, for the interregnum
also appellants were required to be treated at par from the point of view of D
'"" pay scales as their counterparts in CPWD. Learned senior counsel for the
' appellants in this connection submitted that the Tribunal has given a Limited
relief to the appellants only on the ground that draftsmen in CPWD has got
the benefit of an award while the appellants had not got such benefit. But
that is a fortuitous circumstance. On the principle ofEqua.1 Pay for Equal Work
the appellants were entitled to be treated at par with draftsmen of CPWD.
E
Even otherwise the sub-committee of the Department had already recommended
parity of pay scales for the appellants on the same lines as granted to the
draftsmen in CPWD. It was further submitted that substantially there was no
difference in the qualifications of the draftsmen working in ewe as compared
to those working in CPWD and consequently the Tribunal had erred in not F
'i- granting full relief to the appellants as prayed for. It was also submitted that
decision of this Court in Debashis Kar (supra), placing reliance on the O.M
of 1984, had considered limited grievance of parity asked for by the respondents
in that case in the light of the O.M. and that they had never prayed for further
relief, on the lines of CPWD draftsmen, of notional benefit from I st January
1973 and actually from 16th November 1987 so far as the revised pay scales G
were concerned and consequently the aforesaid decision of this Court or for
~"( that matter the latter three Judge Bench decision also would not come in the
I way of the appellants as there was no basic disparity in the light of the
f
I recommendations of the Third Central Pay Commission, between draftsmen in
"' CWC and CPWD when these recommendations were accepted by the H
48 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1998] I S.C.R.

A authorities, so far as the CPWD draftsmen were concerned. Consequently
when the draftsmen in CWC were doing the same type of work and were
~
having substantially the similar qualifications for recruitment there was no
reason why similar treatment on the principle of Equal Pay for Equal Work
should not be given to the appellants as was given to their counter parts in
CPWD.
B
Learned senior counsel Shri Krishnamani for tne appellants next
contended that despite O.M. of 1984 authorities of the Central Government ·"'
had given retrospective benefit of pay scales for a larger period to similarly
situat~d draftsmen working in other Government departments and there was
no reason for the respondents to deny such similar treatment in connection
c with the implementation of the same O.M. to the appellants. He sought to rely
upon various instances of different departments in which said benefit was
given.

Learned senior counsel, Shri Goswami, for the respondents on the other
D hand submitted on behalf of respondent no. I that the nomenclature of the
appellants was different from that of their counterparts in CPWD . That their
qualifications of recruitment were also different at least till 1987 when they
were brought on par and, therefore, they were not entitled to be given any
relief on the principle of Equal Pay for Equal Work. However because of the
O.M. of 1984 the Tribunal has granted the relief on the same lines as directed
E by the O.M. to be paid to draftsmen in all other Government departments,
therefore, there was no reason for the appellants to claim any better right
specially when during. the relevant period from 1973 to 1982 and even upto
1987 the qualifications of the appellants as draftsmen in ewe were different
from those of the draftsmen Grade !,II and Ill in CPWD. Therefore, the
F appellants cannot automatically claim any parity with the pay scales of those
draftsmen for that period. They formed a separate class of employees. Thus
there was no discrimination meted out to the appellants by the authorities in
giving them pay scales as assumed by the Tribunal but as the decision of
the Tribunal against the respondents has become final, learned senior counsel
at this stage accepted whatever relief was given by the Tribunal to the
G appellants. But in his submission no further relief could be given to the
appellants.
y-
Learned senior counsel for the respondents joined issue also on the
alternate contention of Shri Krishnamani, learned senior counsel for the
H appellants that despite the O.M. of 1984 further relief was given to various
NAIN SINGH BHAKUNI v. U.0.1. [S.B. MAJMUDAR, J.] 49
praftsmen in other Government departments who were similarly situated. He A
submitted that whatever relief was given to them was on account of some of
the decisions of the Tribunal which had to be obeyed by the respondents and
they centered round their own facts. That no such contention was canvassed
before the Tribunal by the appellants. In this connection he invited our
attention to the averments made in the additional affidavit filed on behalf of B
respondent no. I in May 1997. He, therefore, submitted that their cases were O
not comparable with those of the appellants and consequently there was no
question of any discrimination on that ground.

Points for Consideration

In view of the aforesaid rival contentions the following points arise for
c
our consideration :

1. Whether the Tribunal was in error in not granting ihe revised pay
scales to the draftsmen of ewe notionally from I st January 1973
to 16th November 1978 and actually by way of arrears of revised D
pay scales from 16th November 1978 to 13th May 1982.

2. In any case whether O.M. of 1984 was diluted by the respondent-
authorities in the cases of similarly situated draftsmen working in
other Government departments and whether on that count also the
appellants are entitled to similar relief of retrospective grant of E
benefits notional as well as actual.

We shall deal with these points seriatini.

Point No. I
F
Whether in error in granting Renue Pay Scale So far as this point is
concerned the Tribunal in the impugned judgment has clearly noted that the
recruitment qualifications of draftsmen in ewe were not at par with the
qualifications of draftsmen of Grade 1,11 and Ill in ePWD and they were
brought on par only from 9th November 1987. It is of course true that despite
that the Tribunal had granted additional relief to the appellants by way of G
notional rise in the pay scales and, therefore parity of pay scales from that
day had become operative. The Tribunal noted that in view of the fact that
O.M. of 1984 had given hike in pay scales retrospectively from 13th May 1982
to 31st October 1983 notionally and from 0 I st November 1983 actually in the
case of draftsmen in other departments same relief could be given to the H
50 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1998] 1 S.C.R.

A appellants. That order in favour of the appellants has become final. The
appellants want further relief as noted earlier., So far as that part of the relief r ~
is concerned the Tribunal has given two reasons for denying that relief.
Firstly because the CPWD draftsmen had gone before the Board of Arbitration
which had recommended such relief i11 their favour while the CWC draftsmen
had not approached such Board of Arbitration and secondly because their
13» educational qualifications were different. The first ground given by the Tribunal
for distinguishing the case of these two sets of employees, in our view, is not
well sustained. We agree with learned senior counsel for the appellants that
merely because the appellants had not gone to the Board of Arbitration, if
the relief given to the CPWD draftsmen by the said Board of Arbitration
C which was accepted by the authorities became available to the appellants who
were identically situated and were doing the same type of work as the
draftsmen in other departments of the Government, question whether they
had gone for similar arbitration or not would pale into insignificance. However
so far as the second ground, on which the Tribunal gave aforesaid limited
relief to the appellants, is concerned we find the same to be well sustained.
D The reason is obvious. Even if the appellants may be having the same scales
like the CPWD draftsmen prior to 1965 as submitted by learned senior counsel
for the appellants and even assuming that the parity of pay scales was .on
the basis of almost identical recruitment qualifications a sharp cleavage both
in connection with the pay scales as well as educational qualifications for
E recruitment of these two sets of employees arose at least after 1965 so far as
educational qualifications went and though their pay scales remained the
same upto 1980 thereafter even the pay scale parity was also disrupted. The
case of the appellants for notional benefit from I st January 1975 and 'actual
benefit from 16th November 1978 will have to be examined in the light of the
nature of educational qualifications which were required for recruiting
F draftsmen in CPWD on the one hand and draftsmen in CWC on the other. It
would also be required to be noted, as averred in the counter affidavit dated
14th October 1992 filed on 2nd November 1992 in paragraph 31 at page 104
of the paper book, that the comparison made by the appellants with draftsmen
of CPWD is quite misleading inasmuch as even the nomenclature of draftsmen
G Grade,III,II and 1 which were prevalent in CPWD were not prevalent in CWC
unit the issuance of notification dated 6th August 1986 and 9th November
1987. Even that apart, so far as the educational qualifications were concerned
the Comparative Statement of Recruitment Rules at pages 193 which is
Annexure II to the Affidavit of May 1997 of Shri B.R. Sharma on behalf of
respondent no.1 shows that before the arbitration award of 20th June 1980,
H in CPWD there were three grades of draftsmen Grade Ill, draftsman Grade II
NAIN SINGH BHAKUNI v. U.0.1. [S.B. MAJMUDAR, J.] 51
and draftsman Grade I while in CWC the corresponding cadres were of Tracer, A
Jr. Draftsman and Sr. Draftsman. So far as draftsmen Grade Ill with whom
-· -<
parity of pay scale of Tracers in CWC is sought the recruitment qualifications
were different as seen from the said annexure. To be recruited as draftsmen
Grade lll in CPWD two years' diploma in draftsmenship was required while
for a tracer in ewe for a direct recruit matriculation plus two years experience
B
,., in tracing was required. In CPWD draftsmen Grade II consisted of employees
who could be promoted 100% from amongst draftsmen Grade Ill with three
years service and draftsmen Grade I in CPWD which was a further promotional
post could be obtained by draftsmen Grade II with eight years service. While
on the other hand so far a Jr. Draftsmen in CWC were concerned who were
on the same pay scale upto 20th June 1980 with draftsmen Grade II in CPWD c
and with whom parity of pay scale is sought by the appellants retrospectively,
tracers could be promoted upto the extent of 75% by promotion from qualified
tracers holding two years diploma in draftsmanship with three years service
or having passed departmental examination with total six years service while
so far as Sr. Draftsmen in CWC who were having parity of pay scale with
-.( Draftsmen Grade I in CPWD prior to 20th June 1980 were concerned, Junior D
Draftsman in CWC could be promoted to the post of Sr. Draftsman if he had
three years experience. Thus experiencewise as well as qualificationwise there
was a sharp difference in the cadres of draftsman Grade Ill at grassroot level
in CPWD and Tracer at grassroot level in CWC and their channels of further
promotions from these two grassroot level cadres in both these establishments E
also required different weightage of experience. It could not, therefore, be said
that qualificationwise the draftsmen in ewe at the base level or in the higher
echelons of service were identically situated as compared to their counterpart
draftsmen Grades III,IJ and I in CPWD. Consequently the general
recommendations for the hike in pay scales as made by the Third Central Pay

-- 'f- Commission which were adopted with necessary changes by the Government
authorities in their application to draftsmen in different services under the
Union of India could not be found fault with on the touchstone of Article 14
F

of the Constitution oflndia. On the findings reached by the Tribunal whatever
maximum benefit could be made available to the appellants is already granted
by the Tribunal by treating them at par with draftsmen of other departments G
for the purpose of hike in pay scales notionally from 13th May 1982 and
actually from !st November 1983 on the basis of the aforesaid O.M. of 1984.
- A mere look at the said O.M. which is at page 148 of the paper book being
Annexure R-4 to the counter affidavit filed on behalf of respondent no. I by
Shri P.C. Jain shows that the President was pleased to decide that the scales
of pay of draftsmen Grade Ill,11 and I in offices/Departments of Govt. oflndia, H·
52 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1998] 1 S.C.R.

A other than the Central Public Works Department, may be revised as above
provided their recruitment qualifications are similar to those prescribed in the >-- ...
case of draftsmen in Central Public Works Department. Those who did not
fulfil the above recruitment qualifications were to continue in the pre-revised
scales. It was further directed that the benefit of this revision of scales of pay
B would be given notionally with effect from 13.5.1982 and actual benefit was
to be allowed with effect from 01.l l.83. It becomes at once clear that for
getting the benefit of that O.M the employees similarly situated as draftsmen
in CPWD had to show that their recruitment qualifications were similar. In the
case of the appellants the said similarity was obtained only in 1987. Therefore
strictly speaking even the notional benefit and the actual benefit ordered to
C be given by the O.M. to identically situated draftsmen in other Government
departments would not have been made available to the appellants. But the
Tribunal considering the equities of the case and having held that at least
from 1987 the educational qualifications were brought on par so far as the
appellants ware concerned as compared to their counterparts in CPWD granted
to the appellants the benefit of O.M. of 1984 for retrospective revision of pay
D scales on: the same lines as granted to similarly situated draftsmen in other
Government depatiments. To grant any further relief to the appellants going
beyond the directions of the O.M. would create a situation wherein the
appellants would get more favourable treatment as compared to their
counterparts in other Government department and that would result in reverse
E discrimination in favour of appellants. It is also interesting to note that
though this O.M. was very much on the record of the case before the Tribunal
and on which reliance was placed by the respondents no effort was made by
the appellants to challenge that 0.M. either before tbe Tribunal or even in
S.L.P. before this Court. The appellants pitched their case only on the ground
of discrimination vis-a-vis CPWD draftsmen who, according to them were
F almost similarly circumscribed as the appeliants. 1t is, of course, true that the
Tribunal has observed in favour of the appellants that they were doing the
same type of work as their counterparts in CPWD, but that by itseif is not
sufficient. If there was clear-cut difference in recruitment qualifications between
the two sets of employees in Cf'WD on the one hand and CWC on the other
G there cannot be an automatic linkage and parity of treatment for retrospective
revision of pay scales as sought to be pressed in service by Learned senior
counsel for the appellants.

In this connection we may profitably refer to the decision of this Court
in Debashis Kar (supra) to which one of us S. Saghir Ahmad, J., was a party.
H In that case that Tribunal had granted parity of treatment to draftsmen
•
NAIN SINGH BHAKUNI v. U.0.1. [S.B. MAJMUDAR. J.] 53
working in ordnance factories as well as army base workshops in EME so far A
- "-': as rise in their pay scales on the same lines as the hike given to their
counterparts in CPWD by the Government Memorandum dated 13th March
1984 was concerned. It was observed that the pay scales fixed on the basis
of First, Second and Third Central Pay Commissions showed that tracers in
ordnance factories had all along been treated equivalent to tracer/draftsman
Grade II in CPWD and draftsman in ordnance factories had all along been
B
--. >-·
treated as equivalent to Assistant Draftsman/Draftsman Grade II in CPWD
and accordingly they were entitled to the benefit of O.M. dated 13th March
1984. The s~.id decision therefore, upheld the action. of the authorities based
on the aforesaid O.M. 1t is this O.M which has been given effect to by the
Tribunal in favour of the present appellants. Under these circumstances, in c
our view, no more relief on the facts of this case as discussed by us, could
be granted to the appellants then what is granted by the Tribunal to them.

We may also usefuliy refer to the pecision of a three member Bench of
this Court rendered in Civil Appeal Nos. 11477-11479of1995 on 2nd December
-"( 1997 wherein the draftsmen employed in the Defence Research Development D
Organisation Ministry, of Defence were found not to be entitled to parity of
treatment as was made available to the draftsmen Grade I and II in CPWD
even in the light of the O.M. dated 13th March 1984 as their educational
qualifications were different. In the light of the ratio of the aforesaid judgment
of three member Bench of this Court, therefore, it must be held that strictly
speaking full benefit of the O.M. of 13th March 1984 would not have been
E
available to the appellants as their educational qualification at the relevant
time were different. But as the Trihunal has given them that benefit and which
order has become final the appellants would not stand to lose that benefit .
But in any case they are not entitled to further hike in the pay scales either
'f
notionally or actually beyond this limit fixed by the said O.M. of 1984. F
Learned senior counsel for the appellants invited our attention to a
decision of this Court in the case of Jaipal and others etc. v. State of
Hmyana and others etc., [1998] 3 SCC 354 for submitting hat even different
educational qualifications would not by itself be a criterion to deny equal pay
for equal work to the employees otherwise similarly circumscribed. In the G
aforesaid decision it was noted in para 9 of the Report that squad teachers
,~.·
possessed JBT certificates and many of them were graduates but minimum
qualification for squad teachers was also matric. Similarly minimum qualification
for instructors was matric but many of the petitioners were graduates and
some of them were trained teachers possessing JBT certificates. As the H
0

54 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1998] I S.C.R.

·A minimum educational qualifications for these two sets of employees were
similar they were held entitled to equal treatment. The facts of the present r- .,.,
case, as we have noted earlier are different. The minimum educational
qualifications at grassroot level for entry in service in ewe for tracers, re-
designated rrom 1987 as draftsmen Grade III, were different rrom the educational
B qualifications of their counterpart draftsmen Grade JIJ in CPWD till 1987. The
aforesaid decision, therefore, cannot assist the learned senior wunsel for the
appellants.

Before parting with discussion on this point we may briefly refer to
written propositions submitted by learned counsel for the appellants in support
C of the appeal. It is submitted that admittedly Draftsmen Grade 1,11 and Ill in
CPWD and in CWC were treated as equals upto 20th June 1980 and they are
treated as equals w.e.f. 13th May 1982. If they were equals for 40 years before
and are equals for all time to come after 1982, how can they be unequals
during his short interval of I year and 11 months alone? The question that
is posed assumes that they are being treated as equals after 1982. In fact as
D we have seen above, upto 1997 qualificationwise they were not equals but )"--
only because the Tribunal stretched a point in favour of the appellants and
gave them the benefit ofO.M. of 1984 it cannot be said that qualificationwise
they became equals all throughout even prior to 1982 . So far as the question
about prospective effect of revision of pay scales of CPWD and CWC
E draftsmen is concerned because they became equals qualificationwise at least
from 1987 prospective effect was being given to their pay scales at least from
that time onwards. So far as retrospective application was concerned appellants
remained unequals as compared to" draftsmen in CPWD between 1982 and
1987 and it is only because of the application of O.M of 1984 that they were
given the benefit by the Tribunal which could not be further enhanced in their
F favour. So far as the submission in connection with the revision of pay scales
fixed by the Third Central Pay Commission with effect from I st January 1973
is concerned the said revision granted to CPWD draftsmen could not
automatically have been granted to draftsmen in ewe whose educational
qualifications during the relevant period in dispute were not the same. The
G submission based on the nature of work, duties, functions and responsibilities
being the same, would not advance the case of the appellants any further as
their qualifications were not on par till 1987, as seen earlier. As discussed
earlier it is true that one of the reasons given by the Central Administrative
Tribunal to deny benefit of revised pay scales from 1978 to 1982 to CMC
draftsmen only because CPWD people had gone to Board of Arbitration is
H not sustainable. However the ultimate conclusion to which the Tribunal reached
NAIN SINGH BHAKUNI v. U.0.1. [S.B. MAJMUDAR, J.] 55.

could be sustained on the ground that qualification wise the draftsmen in A
ewe at least at grassroot level could clearly be distinguished as a separate
.,.. ~
category as compared to that of the draftsmen under CPWD at grassroot
level. The submission that difference in educational qualification should not
be a discriminating factor for a truncated period cannot be sustained for the
simple, reason that the period got truncated only because the Tribunal stretched
a point in favour of the appellants by narrowing the gap for the short period
B
by giving retrospective benefit of pay scales to the appellants both notionally
and actually from 1982-83 though the difference in educational qualifications
for recruitment at grassroot level so far as draftsmen in CWC were concerned
remained upto 1987. The submission based on the difference between
draftsmen Grade III in CWC and CPWD so far as educational qualifications c
were concerned though was confined to Grade lII draftsmen only even, in
promotional avenues, as we have seen earlier there was a clear distinction so
far as requirements for promotional eligibility even to higher grades were
concerned during the relevant time. Consequently in the light of these clear
distinguishing features between the two cadres of draftsmen in ewe and

- -< CPWD which are well established on record no useful purpose could be
served by remanding the matter to Central Administrative Tribunal as lastly
submitted in these written submiGs_ions. The first point for determination is
consequently answered in the neq;ative against the appellants and in favour
D

of. the respondents.
E
Point No. 2

So far as this point is concerned learned senior counsel for the appellants
was very sanguine in his contention that despite the limited retrospective
effect given to the rise in pay scales to draftsmen employed in other
departments of the Government as per O.M of 1984, in many departments of F
'( the Central Government similarly situated draftsmen were given further
retrospective benefits of the rise in pay scales both actual and notional and,
therefore, at least on this ground the appellants can be said to be discriminated
.
~
against. This contention in the first instance was never canvassed for
consideration before the Tribunal. Therefore, it would raise a disputed question
of fact for consideration of this Court for the first time in these appellate G
proceedings. But even leaving aside this aspect of the matter this contention
·-( is tried to be repelled by learned senior counsel for the respondents, placing
reliance on the additional affidavit of Shri B.R. Sharma for respondent no. I
filed on 9th May 1997. In the said 1ffidavit it has been clearly averred that
so far as employees in other departmenis are concerned various orders of the H
56 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1998] l S.C.R.
•
A Tribunal had required the respondents to give them the said benefit and
which orders have become final. It is, therefore obvious that on merits the
Tribunal had held in favour of those concerned employees in other departments
that they were similarly circumscribed as the draftsmen in CPWD and on
those peculiar facts these reliefs were given to them. In the present case such
B similarity of qualifications of employees was not available to the appellants
as found by the Tribunal itself. We fail to appreciate how judicial orders
passed against employees in other departments on the basis of the separate
fact situations which were found established in their cases by the Tribunal
or other judicial authorities could ever be pressed in service almost
automatically by the appellants in the peculiar facts of the present case
C wherein they are not similarly situated as their counterparts in CPWD.
Consequently it could not be said that the appellants have been discriminated
even on this additional ground by the respondents in not giving them further
benefit of revised pay scales both notionally and actually than that which was
given to them by the Tribunal pursuant to the O.M of 1984 and which relief.
as we have seen earlier, was made available to the appellants by even stretching
D the relief by the Tribunal in their favour. Consequently even the second
contention is not found sustainable on merits and stands rejected.

These were the only contentions canvassed in support of the appeal
and as they fail the inevitable result is that the appeal fails and is dismissed.
There will be no order as to costs in the facts and circumstances of the case.

N.J. Appeal dismissed.

y--.

,