Holding

The Supreme Court held that the CAT exceeded its jurisdiction by directing pay parity and cadre merger for railway typists, as such directions can be issued only if the Government accepts the Pay Commission’s recommendations; therefore the CAT and High Court orders are set aside.

Summary

The Union of India appealed against a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order that directed the government to grant railway typists the same pay scales as senior clerks, head clerks and Office Superintendents Grade II, based on the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations. The High Court had upheld the CAT order, but the Supreme Court held that the Pay Commission's recommendations are subject to governmental acceptance and cannot be enforced by a tribunal or court without such acceptance. The Court observed that the specific recommendation in paragraph 55.152 applied only to typists in the Rs.950‑1500 pay band and could not be extended to other typist categories, which fall under paragraph 83.296 and are entitled only to corresponding replacement scales. Consequently, the CAT had exceeded its jurisdiction by issuing directions for pay parity and cadre merger, and the High Court erred in not setting aside the CAT order. The Supreme Court set aside both the CAT and High Court decisions and allowed the appeals.

Issues considered

Whether the Central Administrative Tribunal had jurisdiction to direct pay parity for railway typists with clerical cadres under the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations.
Whether the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission are binding on the government and can be enforced by a tribunal or court without governmental acceptance.
Whether paragraph 55.152 of the Fifth Pay Commission report can be extended to typist categories outside the Rs.950‑1500 pay band.
Whether a tribunal or court can direct the merger of railway typist cadre with the clerical cadre.

Legislation cited

Central Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985

Subjects

pay parityFifth Pay Commissiontypistsclerical cadreCentral Administrative Tribunaljurisdictionpay scalesanomalies committeecadre merger

Judgment

UNION OF INDIA A
v.
ARUN JYOTI KUNDU AND ORS.

AUGUST 27, 2007

!H.K. SEMA AND P.K. BALASUBRAMANY AN, ~J.) B

Service Law:

Pay parity-Recommendations of Fifth Pay Commission-Execution
of-Typists working in Railways claiming pay parity with clerical cadre- C
Claim upheld by Tribunal-Affirmed by High Court-On appeal, Held: Claim
of the typists earlier referred to Anomalies Committee-On recommendations
of the Committee, reliefgranted to the typists in English and Hindi languages-
General recommendations of the Commission regarding pay scales in respect
of certain cadre could not directly be made applicable to other cadres-Even D
if there was any recommendation for merger of two cadres, so long as the
same has not been accepted by the Government, it may not be appropriate
for the Tribunal/Court to issue a direction in connection thereof-Specific
directions in terms of Para 55.152 of the Commission's Report applies only
to typists working in specified pay scale/confined to that category only and
cannot be extended to rope in 01hers not fitting in that category-When a E
concession already extended to respondent-typists by the Government in
terms of the recommendations of the Anomalies Committee, it is open to the
Government to provide such benefit from the notified date-Neither the
Tribunal nor the High Court can direct merger of any cadre as it is the policy
decision that the Government could take-Tribunal has exceeded its
F
jurisdiction in accepting the claim of the incumbents and High Court erred
in not setting aside the order of the Tribunal.

Respondent, employees of Railways in typist cadre, filed an application
before the Central Administrative Tribunal for issuance of a direction to the
appellant-Union of India to sanction the same scales of pay to them as are G
applicable to senior clerks, head clerks and Office Superintendents Grade II
with effect from 1.1.1996 in terms of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay
Commission, and for directions for payment of the arrears on that basis. The
Central Administrative Tribun.al upheld that claim. Aggrieved, the Union of

463 H
464 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 9 S.C.R.

A India challenged the order of CAT in the High Court, which was dismissed by
the High Court. Hence the present appeals.

Appellant-Union of India contended that the Pay Commission had taken
a conscious decision to deal differently with the cadre of typists and the cadre
of clerks and hence the typists cannot claim the benefits which were not given
B to them by the Fifth Pay Commission; that if parity as claimed is to be given,
it would amount to re-writing the report of the Pay Commission; that the
Central Administrative Tribunal and the High Court had done this by granting
the reliefs claimed and consequently they have acted outside their jurisdiction
while exercising the power of judicial review; that a mandamus has been
C issued to merge the cadre is not permissible; that the peculiar facts of the
services in the Railways had been specifically taken note of by the Fifth Pay ·
Commission and a conscious decision was taken with a view to grant higher
pay scale because one third of the strength of senior clerks was that of directly
recruited graduates and a higher pay scale has been given to them on the
basis of educational qualifications; and that the recommendation in paragraph
D 83.296 of the Pay Commission's Report was made by the Commission after
appreciation of all the relevant circumstances relating the service in Railways.

Respondent-employees submitted that in respect of language typists the
Pay Commission had recommended that language typists can be divided into
four categories; that typists in English and Hindi language form part of the
E general cadre of an organisation. They are treated at par in the matter of pay
scales, promotional avenues etc. as per paragraph 55.152 of the Report; that
the recommendations in respect of pay scales for clerical cadre is contained
in paragraph 83.225 of the Report; that in terms of the Report the language
typists are entitled to the same pay scales as have been recommended by the
p Fifth Pay Commission in respect of the cleriCal cadre; that no separate
recommendation was made in view of the fact that the matter was specifically
covered under the common categories; and that paragraph 83.296 of the
Report does not have application because that dealt only with the categories
of employees whose cases have not been dealt with either under common
categories in Chapter 55 or under specific categories in paragraph 83.1 to
G 83.295.

Allowing the appeals, the Court

HELD: 1.1. When there is a specific chapter dealing with the Ministry
of Railways in the Pay Commission's Report, the general recommendation
H regarding typists in the limited pay scale of Rs.950-1500 could not straight
U.0.1. v. ARUN NOTI KUNDU 465
away be made applicable to other pay scales and even if there was any A
recommendation for merger, so long as the same has not been accepted it
may not be appropriate for the tribunal or the court to issue a direction in
that regard. Unless the Government has accepted the recommendation to
merge the cadres, the Court cannot proceed on the basis of the
recommendation of the Pay Commission alone or to direct the Government to
accept the recommendation. (Paras 8 and 91 f471-C, D, Fl
B

Dev Kumar Mukherjee (19951Suppl.2 SCC 640; State of Uttar Pradesh
v. Ministerial Karamchari Sangh, (199811 SCC 422; Saurabh Chaudri and
> Ors v. Union of India and Ors., (2003) 9 SCALE 272 and M.P. Rural
Agricultural Officer Association v. State of MP., (2004( 4 SCC 646, relied
c
on.

1.2. As far as the staff in the Railways is concerned, for whom no specific
provisions have been made in the Report, it would be paragraph 83.296 of the
Report that would apply and if it is so, the pay scale of the typists not
specifically dealt with would be corresponding replacement scale of pay. The D
specific direction in paragraph 55.152 of the Report relied on by the
respondents applies only to typists in the scale of pay in Rs.950-1500 or it is
confined to that category only and the same cannot be extended and paragraph
83.295 invoked to rope in others not fitting in with that category.
(Para 101 (472-8, CJ
E
1.3. The tribunal has exceeded its jurisdiction in issuing the direction,
it has issued. The fact that notwithstanding the Pay Commission not
recommending, particularly, the payment of higher scale to two sets of typists,
typists in English language and typists in Hindi language, the Government
chose to give them relief with effect from 31.1.2000 would not justify an
F
inference of discrimination or a finding that the authority has acted
arbitrarily or unreasonably. It is for the Government to act on the report of
the Pay Commission or either to accept or not to accept its recommendation.
(Para 12] (472-G, HJ

State of U.P. and others v. J.P. Chaurasia and Ors., (1989( l SCC 121, G
referred to.

~
1.4. Once the recommendations of the pay commission are accepted, in
full, it could also give effect to it from the date recommended in that behalf.
But when admittedly no provision was made in respect of the English and Hindi
typists and they pointed to the anomalies and the Government on the basis of H
466 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 9 S.C.R.

A the recommendation of the Anomalies Committees decided to give them the
scale with effect from 31.1.2000, it could not be held to be discriminatory or
to be beyond the power of the Government. When a concession was being
extended as distinct from implementing a specific recommendation of the Pay
Commission with reference to a particular point of time, it is open to the
B Government to provide that the benefit it proposes to give, would be available
only from a notified date. As this Court has observed, neither the Central
Administrative Tribunal nor the High Court, can direct the merger of any
cadre. That is a policy decision for the Government to take. So long as it is
not done, it is not open to the tribunal or the court to issue directions in that
regard and to follow it up with what are thought to be consequential directions.
C (Para 141 (472-A-C)

2. The Central Administrative Tribunal has exceeded its jurisdiction
in issuing the directions it has issued and the High Court was in error in not
setting them aside. Hence, the decision of the High Court and that of the
Central Administrative Tribunal is set aside. [Para 151 (474-A, B]
D
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal Nos. 2468-2469 of
2005.

From the final Judgment and Order dated 04.03.2003 of the High Court
of Calcutta in W.P.C.T. Nos. 1325 &1326 of2002.
E
T.S. Doabia, Kiran Bhardwaj, Fizani Hussain and Anil Katiyar for the
Appellant.

J.L.Gupta, Parthapratim Chaudhuri, Aditya Sharma, K.S. Rana and G.S.
Chatterjee for the Respondents.
F
KH Nobin Singh for the Intervenor.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

P.K. BALASUBRAMANYAN, J. Intervention allowed. Heard learned
G counsel on all sides.
l. These appeals by the Union of India challenge the decision of the
High Court of Calcutta dismissing the writ petitions filed by it challenging the
decision of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Calcutta Bench, in applications
filed by employees of Railways in typist cadre. The claim of the employees
H was for the issue of a direction to the appellant to sanction the same scales
U.0.1. v.ARUNJYOTIKUNDU[BA(ASUBRAMANYAN,J.] 467

of pay to them as are applicable to senior clerks, head clerks and Office A
Superintendents Grade II with effect from 1.1.1996 and for directing payment
of the arrears on that basis. The Central Administrative Tribunal had upheld
that claim. That was challenged in the High Court, but the High Court
repulsed the challenge.

2. Claim before the Tribunal was made on the basis that the scales of B
pay of the respondents herein, working as typists in the Eastern Railways is
at par with that of Lower Division Clerks. The Fifth Pay Commission had
recommended that typists should be treated at par with clerks and hence the
typists have a legitimate right to claim pay at scales enjoyed by Senior Clerks,
Head Clerks and Overseers Grade II in respect of the posts of Senior Typists, C
Head Typists and daily typists respectively. Instead of implementing the
recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, the appellants have fixed the
pay of the respondents at lower scale. When typists were at par with the
ministerial staff in the matter of promotion, there was no justification for not
treating Senior Typist, Head Typist and the Chief Typist at par with Senior
Clerk, Head Clerk and Overseer Grade II. The claim was opposed by the D
Union of India by pointing out that the recommendations of the Fifth Pay
Commission regarding pay had been duly implemented to the extent accepted
but that the cadre of typists had not been merged in the cadre of clerks.
When a grievance was put forward, the question was examined by the Anomaly
Committee and in respect of English Typists and Hindi Language Typists, E
relief was granted with effect from 31.1.2000 that it was not within the purview
of the Central Administrative Tribunal to re-fix the pay scales or to issue
directions to merge the cadre as sought for by the respondents and that the
applications were liable to be dismissed.

3. The Central Administrative Tribunal brushed aside the objections of F
the Union of India regarding its jurisdiction, its authority to issue a direction
to merge the cadres and the propriety in its undertaking the fixation of pay
scales in the light of the decisions of this Court and proceeded to grant relief
to the respondents by directing that the English language and Hindi language
typists be given the same pay scales as applicable to Senior Clerks, Head
Clerks and Office Superintendents with effect from 1.1.1996 and that the G
arrears be paid on that basis within the time fixed. The Tribunal in O.A. 12
of 1999 also directed the appellants to give the benefit of the same scales to
all typists as are applicable to Senior Clerks, Head Clerks, Office
Superintendents Grade II as contained in the order dated 16.10. 1997 with
effect from 1.1.1996. Feeling aggrieved by these directions, the Union of India H
468 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007] 9 S.C.R

A filed the writ petitions before the Calcutta High Court reiterating its contentions.
The Division Bench overruled the contentions of the Union of India and
dismissed the writ petitions. The Union of India has thereupon come up with
these appeals by special leave.

4. The Fifth Central Pay Commission had gone into the pay scales of
B various categories of employees in the Railways also. The Pay Commission
had generally recommended equivalent revised scales of pay for the existing
scales of pay except where it had thought it necessary to effect improvement
on the basis of recruitment qualifications, nature of work and so on. On the
recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission the Government of India had
C revised the scales of pay of its employees with effect from 1.1.1996. When
certain organizations of employees made complaints of alleged anomalies in
the revised pay scales, the Government of India had constituted Anomalies
Committees at the national and departmental levels. The typists in the
Railways had also complained of certain anomalies and those grievances were
considered by the Departmental Anomalies Committee. On the basis of the
D report of the Anomalies Committee, typists in English and Hindi language
were given relief but with effect from 31.1.2000. It is being dissatisfied with
this that the typists approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, Calcutta:

5. According to the Unio!l of India, the Railway establishment has been
separately dealt with by the Fifth Central Pay Commission which had made
E specific recommendations for the cadre of ministerial staff of Railways. They
are contained in paragraph 83 .225 of the Report. It is the further case of the
Union of India that the Pay Commission had not made any specific
recommendation for the category of typists in Railways while dealing with
them. Under paragraph 83.296 of its Report, the Pay Commission has stated
F that all posts in Organizations other than those specifically discussed are in
standard scales of pay and they may be placed in corresponding replacement
scales of pay. Therefore, based on that recommendation typists in the
Railways have been allowed standard replacement pay scales.

6. Learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant contended
G that the cadre of typists and the cadre of clerks in the Railways are distinct
with distinct duties. A conscious decision was taken not to merge the t~o.
cadres. A limited decision was taken to reduce the number of posts on the
lowest rung at the typist cadre and the posts so reduced were to
correspondingly increase the strength of the cadre of clerks. The d~cision
H was that there was to be no merger. The Fifth Pay Commission, while dealing
- )-
(

U.O.I. v. ARUN JYOTI KUNDU[BALASUBRAMANYAN,J.] 469

with the Ministry of Railways had dealt with its clerical staff at paragraph A
83.220 and 83.225. In paragraph 83.220 the Pay Commission dealt with the pay
structure of the Ministerial Staff of Railways, subordinate staff and
recommended the various pay scales. In paragraph 83.225 it dealt with the
Ministerial Staff and officers other than subordinate officers and recommended
a pay structure for them. In paragraph 83.296 it was recommended that all
posts in organizations under the Ministry other than those specifically B
discussed by the Pay Commission in the concerned Chapter are in standard
scales of pay and they may be placed in the corresponding replacement
scales of pay recommended by it. According to the appellant all the relevant
aspects were taken note of by the expert body, the Fifth Pay Commission and
it had dealt separately with the Ministry of Railways. But it has deliberately C
chosen not to comment on the pay structure of the different hierarchies of
typists and had left their pay scales to be determined in terms of the standard
scales of pay as provided in paragraph 83.296. It is, therefore, the submission
on behalf of the appellant that the Commission had taken a conscious decision
to deal differently with the cadre of typists and the cadre of clerks and hence
the typists cannot claim the benefits which were not given to them by the D
Fifth Pay Commission. The fact that they were enjoying the same pay scales
before the Fifth Pay .Commission's recommendations would not make any
difference in the light of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission.
If parity, as claimed is to be given, it would amount re-writing the report of
the Pay Commission. The Central Administrative Tribunal1and the High Court E
had done this by granting the reliefs claimed and. consequently they have
acted outside their jurisdiction while exercising the power of judicial review.
A mandamus has been issued to merge the cadre so to say; that is not
permissible. It is pointed out that the peculiar facts of the services in the
Railways had been specifically taken note of by the Fifth Pay Commission and
the Commission had observed that they had considered the pay structure of F
ministerial staff for the Railways in the context of all pattern of subordinate
officers and pay structure in different railway categories and pay structure of
different categories where graduates were inducted into-the cadre. It was also
submitted that a conscious decision was taken with a view to grant higher
pay scale because one third of the strength of senior clerks was that of G
directly recruited graduates and a higher pay scale has been given to them
on the basis of educational qualifications. The recommendation in paragraph
83.296 was also made by the Commission based on its appreciation of all the
relevant circumstances relating the service in Railways.

7. It is contended on behalf of the respondents and interveners that the H
470 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 9 S.C.R.

A Fifth Pay Commission had found that 26 categories of employees were common
in various ministries and· organizations under the Government and they are
listed in the Report. The matter of fixation of pay scales in respect of those
26 common categories like accountant and typists etc. were considered in
Chapter 55. In respect of language typists the Pay Commission had
recommended that language typists .can be divided into four categories,
B typists in English language typists, Hindi language typists, typists in Indian
languages other than Hindi and English and typists in foreign languages.
Typists in English and Hindi language form part of the general cadre of an
orgnisation. They are treated at par in the matter of pay scales, promotional
avenues etc. as per paragraph 55.152 of the Report. It is the further contention
C that the recommendations in respect of pay scales for clerical cadre in the
Railways is contained in paragraph 83.225 and after considering the relevant
aspects, a pay structure for the Ministerial staff was specifically recommended.
In paragraph 83.295 it was stated that recommendations of common categories
like EDP staff, typing staff, official language and canteen staff had been made
in the Chapter on common categories. It is, therefore, the case of the
D respondents that on a combined reading of the above paragraphs it can be
seen that the language typists are entitled to the same pay scales as have
beP-n recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission in respect of the clerical
cadre. No separate recommendation was made in view of the fact that the
matter was specifically covered under the common categories. It is the
E submission on behalf of the respondents that paragraph 83.296 does not have
application because that dealt only with the categories of employees whose
cases have not been dealt with either under common categories in Chapter
55 or under specific categories in paragraph 83. l to 83.295.

8. In answer, it is pointed out on behalf of the appellant that paragraph
F 83 .295 has no relevance. Paragraph 55 .152 relied on was only a recommendation
with regard to typists in the pay scale of Rs.950-1500 and this was clear from
the statement "as such we recommend that the posts of language typists be
merged with the clerical cadres of the respective organizations/central graduates
clerical, service in the case of central graduates in the pay scale of Rs.950-
G 1500. This will ensure adequate promotional opportunities for those typists."
It is also pointed out that paragraph 55.154 dealt with official language typists
and it was noticed that the posts were very few. and there was scarcity of
staffs. Since the candidates are required to possess higher qualifications it
was recommended that they should form a separate and distinct category
entitled to better remuneration. It was, therefore, recommended that direct
H entry in their case may be made in the pay scale of Rs.1320-2040. According
U.0.1. v. ARUN JYOTI KUNDU [BALASUBRAMANYAN,J.] 471

to the appellant, from the above it is apparent that the specific recommendation A
was with regard to language typists in the pay scale ofRs.950-1500, there was
a specific recommendation to merge them with the clerical staff of respective
organizations, there was no recommendation vis-a-vis typists in other pay
scales in paragraph 55.154 which dealt with the higher qualification and,
therefore, it is a case where paragraph 83.296 squarely applies and all that the B
typists are entitled to are corresponding replacement pay scales recommended
by the Fifth Pay Commission. We find considerable force in the contention
of learned counsel for the appellant that the plea that categories other than
categories of Rs.950-1500 are also required to be merged or are required to
be given the same treatment is not borne out and that the recommendation
is limited to the language typists in the scale of Rs.950-1500. When there is C
a specific chapter dealing with the Ministry of Railways, the general
recommendation regarding typists in the limited pay scale of Rs.950-1500
could not straight away be made applicable to other pay scales and even if
there was any recommendation for merger, so long as the same has not been
accepted it may not be appropriate for the tribunal or the court to issue a D
direction in that regard.

9. We had recently held in K. S. Krishnaswamy v. Union of India & Anr.
JT 2006 (10) 479 that the recommendations of Pay Commissions are subject
to acceptance or rejection. Speaking for the Bench, one of us (H.K. Serna,
J.) stated: E
"It is well settled principle of Jaw that recommendations of the Pay
Commission are subject to the acceptance/rejection with modifications
of the appropriate Government."

So, unless the Government has accepted the recommendation to merge the F
cadres, the Court cannot proceed on the basis of the recommendation alone
or to direct the Government to accept the recommendation. In this context
we have also to take note of the decisions of this Court in Dev Kumar
Mukherjee (1995] Suppl. 2 SCC 640 that the recommendations of pay scales
are not open to judicial review and the one in State of Uttar Pradesh v. G
Ministerial Karamchari Sangh, (1998] l SCC 422 to the effect that the
evaluation of typists for the purposes of pay scales must be left to the expert
body. The role of the Pay Commission and that of the court has also been
dealt by the decision of this Court in Saurabh Chaudri and others v. Union
ofIndia and others, (2003) 9 SCALE 272 and MP. Rural Agricultural Officer H
472 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 9 S.C.R.

A Association v. State of MP., [2004] 4 SCC 646. In the latter decision it was held
by this Court that pay commissions are constituted for evaluating duties and
functions of the employees and the nature thereof vis-a-vis the educational
qualifications therefor. Although the pay commission is an expert body, the
State in its wisdom and in furtherance of its valid policy may or may not accept
B its recommendations.

10. On going throug~ the relevant paragraphs of the Report of the Fifth
Pay Commission in the light of the arguments raised before us, we are of the
view that as far as the staff in the Railway's is concerned, for whom no specific
provisions have been made, it would be paragraph 83.296 that would apply
C and if it is so, the pay scale of the typists not spedfically dealt with would
be corresponding replacement scale of pay. The specific direction in paragraph
55.152 relied on by the respondents applies only to typists in the scale of pay
in Rs.950-1500 or it is confined to that category only and the same cannot be
extended and paragraph 83.295 invoked to rope in others not fitting in with
D that category.

1 I. Though the tribunal noticed the decision in State of U.P. and others
v. J.P. Chaurasia and others [1989] I SCC 121, it has proceeded on the footing
that since the Commission had recommended that the posts of language
typists be merged with the clerical cadre even though that has not been done,
E a direction still could be issued for grant of benefits of the same pay scales
as are applicable to the senior clerks, head clerks and office superintendents
Grade II, to the respondents with effect from 1. I .1996. In this context, the
tribunal has also relied on the fact that on the recommendation of the Anomalies
Committee the appellants have accepted the demand of two sets of typists for
F grant of higher set of pay scale equivalent to their counter parts in the clerical
cadre. It has held that on the same analogy there cannot be any justification
to deny benefits to typists as a whole.

12. We are afraid that the tribunal has exceeded its jurisdiction in issuing
the direction, it has issued. The fact that notwithstanding the Fifth Pay
G Commission not recommending, particularly, the payment of higher scale to
two sets of typists, typists in English language and typists in Hindi language,
the Government chose to give them relief with effect from 3 l. l.2000 would not
justify an inference of discrimination or a finding that the authority has acted
arbitrarily or unreasonably. As this Court has clarified in the decisions
H adverted to, it is for the Government to act on the report of the Pay Commission
U.0.1.v.ARUNJYOTIKUNDU[BALASUBRAMANYAN,J.] 473

or either to accept or not to accept its recommendation. Once the A
recommendations of the pay commission are accepted, in full, it could also
give effect to it from the date recommended in that behalf. But when admittedly
no provision was made in respect of the English and Hindi typists and they
pointed to the anomalies and the Government on the basis of the
recommendation of the Anomalies Committees decided to given them the B
scale with effect from 3 l. l .2000, it could not be held to be discriminatory or
to be beyond the power of the Government. When a concession was being
extended as distinct from implementing a specific recommendation of the Pay
Commission with reference to a particular point of time, it is open to the·
Government to provide that the benefit it proposes to give, would be available
only from a notified date. As this Court has observed, neither the Central C
Administrative Tribunal nor the High Court, can direct the merger of any
cadre. That is a policy decision for the Government to take. So long as it
is not done, it is not open to the tribunal or the court to issue directions in
that regard and to follow it up with what are thought to be consequential
directions. D
13. We may in this context notice that the Central Administrative Tribunal,
Principal Bench, Delhi dealing with a similar claim took up the position on the
basis of decisions of this Court, that the tribunal would have no jurisdiction
to issue the directions sought for by the employees. It is submitted that the
correctness of the said decision has been questioned in the High Court at E
Delhi. Therefore, it is not necessary for us to make any observation regarding
that decision. But we note that, that tribunal declined jurisdiction in similar
circumstances.

14. Once we find that it was open to the Government to extend a benefit F
to a set of its employees with effect from a particular day on the basis of some
anomaly found in the report of the Fifth Pay Commission, there would arise
no discrimination because the very implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission
· Report would not entitle the respondents to any benefit. The very right to
their benefit arose because of the decision of the Government to extend to
them a particular benefit not specified in the Fifth Pay Commission Report.
G
It is, therefore, not possible to postulate that the decision of the Government
must be given retrospective effect and if no such effect is given, the tribunal
or court can interfere and direct the giving of such retrospective effec;t. Once
it is found that paragraph 83.296 is attracted to the case, it has to be found
that the applicants before the Tribunal were not entitled to any relief. H
474 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 9 S.C.R.

A 15. We are, therefore, of the view that the Central Administrative Tribunal
has exceeded its jurisdiction in issuing the directions it has issued and the
High Court was in error in not setting them aside. We, therefore, allow these
appeals and setting aside the decision of the High Court and that of the
Central Administrative Tribunal dismiss the original applications filed before
B the Central Administrative Tribunal, Calcutta. We direct the parties to suffer
their respective costs.

S.K.S. Appeals allowed.