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Judgment
O R D E R
By Justice Rajiv Joshi, Member (Judicial)
Heard Shri Jaswant Singh, learned counsel for the applicant and Shri Rishi Kumar, learned counsel for the respondents.
This Contempt Petition has been filed alleging non-compliance of the order dated 15.11.2018 passed by this Tribunal in O.A. No. 773/2013. The said O.A. was partly allowed with the following observations and directions contained in paragraphs 24 and 25 thereof:
“24.As per the judgment dated 19.7.2013 of Hon’ble Allahabad High Court in Writ-A No.18244/2013, the movement of Guards from Senior Goods guard to Passenger Guard is a lateral induction and it is not a promotion. The said judgment dated 19.7.2013 has been upheld by Hon’ble Apex Court, as the SLP filed against the judgment dated 19.7.2013 was dismissed vide order dated 29.8.2014. Hence, the judgment dated 19.7.2013 is binding on this Tribunal, while deciding these OAs, as the facts in these OAs are similar to the facts in the Writ-A No.18244/2013. As discussed in para 21, 22 and 23 above, the movement of the Guards from the post of Senior Goods Guard to the post of Passenger Guard is to be treated as lateral induction, whereas it is treated Central Administrative Tribunalas promotion by the Railway Board vide circular dated 10.2.2011. Hence, in lieu of the lateral movement from the post of Senior Goods Guard to Passenger Guard, which is not treated as a promotion as per the order dated 19.7.2013 of Hon’ble Allahabad High Court, the applicants are entitled for the benefit of one upgradation under MACP. But since at the time of movement from Senior Goods Guards to Passenger Guard, the applicants were allowed the benefit of increment, the same benefit may not be allowed again while considering the MACP benefit.
25.In view of the discussions above, the prayer in the OA to set aside the Railway Board circular dated 13.12.2012 (Annexure A-1) cannot be accepted in view of the judgment dated 27.3.2018 of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Union of India and Ors. vs. Mukti Singha in Civil Appeal No. (s) 3321 of 2018, which is cited by the learned counsel for the respondents. But as held in the judgment dated 27.3.2018 of Hon’ble Apex Court, the benefit of MACP already allowed to the applicants shall not be recovered from the applicants. Further, following the judgment dated 19.7.2013 of Hon’ble Allahabad High Court in the Writ-A No. 18244/2013, we direct the respondents to consider extending the benefit of financial upgradation of MACP to the applicants who are eligible for the same, in terms of the aforesaid judgment dated 19.7.2013 and keeping in view the discussions in para 24 above.”
At the outset, it would be appropriate to notice the earlier orders passed in the present proceedings, which have a bearing on the controversy involved.
Vide order dated 17.04.2025, this Tribunal, after noticing that the order dated 15.11.2018 passed in O.A. No. 773/2013 had been acted upon/considered in the proceedings before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, observed that a prima facie case of contempt for non-compliance of the said order was made out. Accordingly, notice was issued to the competent authority amongst the respondents, namely, Respondent No. 3, as to why proceedings for contempt be not initiated against him for non-compliance of the Tribunal’s order.
Thereafter, the respondents filed their Compliance Affidavit on 29.05.2025. The applicant filed his objections thereto on 16.11.2025. Subsequently, vide order dated 12.01.2026, the applicant was granted further time to file his objection, wherein he submitted that although the respondents had filed a Compliance Affidavit, the difference arising out of Grade Pay of Rs.4,800/- as well as the gratuity amount had not been paid.
Subsequently, vide order dated 16.07.2026, this Tribunal directed the respondents to furnish, through a Supplementary Compliance Affidavit, the dates on which the applicants had been granted the first, second and third financial upgradations, in the light of paragraph 25 of the order dated 15.11.2018 passed in O.A. No. 773/2013. The said order was passed in the presence of learned counsel for the applicants. In pursuance thereof, as per office report, the respondents filed their Supplementary Compliance Affidavit on 11.08.2026.
In the Supplementary Compliance Affidavit, the respondents have furnished applicant-wise details regarding the appointment, promotions and financial upgradations of the four applicants, namely, Shri Shakil Ahmad, Shri Ravindra Kumar, Shri J.R. D’Souza and Shri G.S. Chauhan. The relevant service and financial upgradation particulars furnished by the respondents in respect of each applicant are reproduced below: -
In respect of Applicant No1, Shri Shakil Ahmad:-
उ×ƣर मÚय रेलवे “काया[लय मंडल रेल Ĥबंधक (का) झाँसी Ǒदनांक-20.07.2026 पğ संÉया पी/पीएफ/ͪ वͪ वध/ टȣआर मुÉय ͪ वͬ ध सहायक उ मरे झांसी ͪ वषय- Įी शकȧल अहमद (सेवारत) मेल गाड[ झांसी के कोट[ Ĥकरण के सàबÛध मɅ उपलÞध ǐरकाड[ के आधार पर पदोÛनǓत सàबÛधी समèत जानकारȣ उपलÞध कराने के सàबÛध मɅ।
उपरोÈत ͪ वषयांतग[त Įी शकȧल अहमट (सेवारत) मेल गाड[ के कोट[ Ĥकरण के सÛबÛध मɅ उपलÞध ǐरकाड[ के आधार पर पदोÛनǓत सàबÛधी समèत जानकारȣ Ǔनàनͧ लͨ खत हैः
कम[चारȣ कȧ ǓनयुिÈत वेतनमान 1200-2040 (Ǒदनांक 10.09.1990) ACP जीपी -4200/- (वेतनमान 5000-8000) (बेͧ सक पे 6050/-) (Ǒद-10.01.2003) सामाÛय पदोÛनǓत (पैसेजर गाड[) (Ēेड पे 4200/- (वेतनमान 5000-8000) (Ǒद-10.06.2004) 2वी एमएसीपी लाभ- Ēेड पे 4600/- Ǒदनांक 13.09.2010 से (बेͧ सक पे 21500/-) सामाÛय पदोÛÛती मेल गाड[ मɅ जीपी 4600/- (वेतनमान 9300-34800) (Ǒद-05.10.2012)
रेलवे बोड[ ɮवारा आरबीई 142/2012 Ǒदनांक 13.12.2012 मɅ जारȣ ǑदशाǓनदȶशानुसार कम[चारȣ को Ǒदया गया Ēेड पे ǽ. 4600/- का लाभ वापस लेकर कम[चारȣ को पुनः Ēेड पे ǽ.4200/- मɅ कर Ǒदया गया।
2वी एमएसीपी लाभ- Ēेड पे 4200/- Ǒदनाक 13.09.2010 से (बेͧ सक पे 21100/-) पदोÛÛती मेल गाड[ मɅ जीपी 4200 /- (वेतनमान 9300-34800) (Ǒद-05.10.2012) (बेͧ सक पे 23510/-)
पुनः माननीय सवȾÍच Ûयायालय एसएलपी (ͧ सͪ वल) डायरȣ संÉया 43099/2023 भारत संघ एवं अÛय बनाम स×य नारायण एवं अÛय मɅ Ǒदये गये आदेश Ǒदनांक 12.12.2023 के अनुपालन मɅ कम[चारȣ को पुनः Ēेड पे 4600/- का लाभ Ǒदनाक 13.09.2010 से (बेͧ सक पे 21500/-) Ĥदान ͩ कया गया। एवं कम[चारȣ का जीपी 4600 मɅ वेतन Ǔनधा[रण करते हुए 01.07.2024 माच[ को पे 102800/- कर दȣ गयी। िजसे माच[ 2025 के वेतन पğक मɅ चाज[ कर Ǒदया गया था।
उÈत आधार पर तैयार अÈटूबर 2012 से फरवरȣ 2025 तक के एǐरयर ǽ.945516/- का भुगतान लेखा ͪ वभाग के अंǓतम अनुभाग ɮवारा CO7 Đमांक 32030725700780 के माÚयम से Ǒदनाक 27.03.2026 को कर Ǒदया गया है।”
In respect of Applicant No.2, Shri Ravindra Kumar:
“उ×ƣर मÚय रेलवे “काया[लय मंडल रेल Ĥबंधक (का) झाँसी Ǒदनांक-20.07.2026 पğ संÉया पी/पीएफ/ͪ वͪ वध/ टȣआर मुÉय ͪ वͬ ध सहायक उ मरे झांसी ͪ वषय- Įी रͪ वÛġ कुमार भूपू, मेल गाड[ झांसी के कोट[ Ĥकरण के सàबÛध मɅ उपलÞध ǐरकाड[ के आधार पर पदोÛनǓत सàबÛधी समèत जानकारȣ उपलÞध कराने के सàबÛध मɅ। उपरोÈत ͪ वषयांतग[त Įी रͪ वÛġ कुमार भूपू मेल गाड[ के कोट[ Ĥकरण के सàबÛध मɅ उपलÞध ǐरकाड[ के आधार पर पदोÛनǓत सàबÛधी समèत जानकारȣ Ǔनàनͧ लͨ खत है
कम[चारȣ कȧ ǓनयुिÈत वेतनमान 1200-2040 (Ǒदनांक 10.09.1990) पदोÛनǓत पैसेजर गाड[ Ēेड पे 4200/- (वेतनमान 5000-8000) (Ǒद-19.12.1997) (बेͧ सक पे 5300/-) सामाÛय पदोÛनǓत मेल गाड[ Ēेड पे 4200/- (वेतनमान 5000-8000) Ǒदनांक-24.01.2003 2वी एमएसीपी लाभ Ēेड पे 4600/- Ǒदनांक 01.09.2008 से (बेͧ सक पे 21600/-)
रेलवे बोड[ ɮवारा आरबीई 142/2012 Ǒदनांक 13.12.2012 मɅ जारȣ ǑदशाǓनदȶशानुसार कम[चारȣ को Ǒदया गया Ēेड पे ǽ. 4600/- का लाभ वापस लेकर कम[चारȣ को पुनः Ēेड पे ǽ. 4200/- मɅ कर Ǒदया गया।
2वी एमएसीपी लाभ Ēेड पे 4200/- Ǒदनाक 01.09.2008 से (बेͧ सक पे 21200/-)
पुनः माननीय सवȾÍच Ûयायालय एसएलपी (ͧ सͪ वल) डायरȣ संÉया 43090/2023 भारत संघ एवं अÛय बनाम स×य नारायण एवं अÛय मɅ Ǒदये गये आदेश Ǒदनांक 12.12.2023 के अनुपालन मɅ कम[चारȣ को पुनः Ēेड पे 4600/- का लाभ Ǒदनाक 01.09.2008 से (बेͧ सक पे 21600/-) एवं पीपीओ संÉया 2025/320300462 Ǒदनांक 26.12.2025 को लेवल 7 मɅ बेͧ सक पे ǽ. 105900/- के आधार पर ͩ कया गया।
3वी एमएसीपी लाभ Ēेड पे 4600/- Ǒदनांक 01.09.2018 से (बेͧ सक पे 88700/-) कम[चारȣ का अंǓतम वेतन-109100/-Central Administrative TribunalउÈत आधार पर ͧ सतàबर 2018 से Ǒदसàबर 2025 तक के तैयार एǐरयर ǽ. 778205/-का भुगतान लेखा ͪ वभाग के अंǓतम अनुभाग ɮवारा CO7 Đमांक 32030726700139 के माÚयम से Ǒदनांक 10.06.2026 को कर Ǒदया गया है।”
In respect of Applicant No.3, Shri J.R. D’Souza:
उ×ƣर मÚय रेलवे “काया[लय मंडल रेल Ĥबंधक (का) झाँसी Ǒदनांक-22.07.2026 पğ संÉया पी/पीएफ/ͪ वͪ वध/ टȣआर मुÉय ͪ वͬ ध सहायक उ मरे झांसी ͪ वषय- Įी जूड रोशन ͫ डसूजा भूपू, मेल गाड[ झांसी के कोट[ Ĥकरण के सàबÛध मɅ उपलÞध ǐरकाड[ के आधार पर पदोÛनǓत सàबÛधी समèत जानकारȣ Ǔनàनͧ लͨ खत हैः-
उपरोÈत ͪ वषयांतग[त Įी जूड रोशन ͫ डसूजा भूपू मेल गाड[ के कोट[ Ĥकरण के सàबÛध मɅ उपलÞध ǐरकाड[ के आधार पर पदोÛनǓत सàबÛधी समèत जानकारȣ Ǔनàनͧ लͨ खत है
कम[चारȣ कȧ ǓनयुिÈत वेतनमान 1200-2040 (Ǒदनांक 10.09.1990) ACP जीपी 4200/- (वेतनमान 5000-8000) (बेͧ सक पे 6050/-)(Ǒदनांक 01.09.2003) 2वी एमएसीपी लाभ Ēेड पे 4600/- Ǒदनांक 17.09.2010 से (बेͧ सक पे 21500/-) रेलवे बोड[ ɮवारा आरबीई 142/2012 Ǒदनांक 13.12.2012 मɅ जारȣ ǑदशाǓनदȶशानुसार कम[चारȣ को Ǒदया गया Ēेड पे ǽ. 4600/- का लाभ वापस लेकर कम[चारȣ को पुनः Ēेड पे ǽ. 4200/- मɅ कर Ǒदया गया।
2वी एमएसीपी लाभ Ēेड पे 4200/- Ǒदनाक 17.09.2010 से (बेͧ सक पे 21100/-) पदोÛÛती मेल गाड[ मɅ जीपी 4200 /- (वेतनमान 9300-34800) (Ǒद-08.08.2012)
पुनः माननीय सवȾÍच Ûयायालय एसएलपी (ͧ सͪ वल) डायरȣ संÉया 43090/2023 भारत संघ एवं अÛय बनाम स×य नारायण एवं अÛय मɅ Ǒदये गये आदेश Ǒदनांक 12.12.2023 के अनुपालन मɅ कम[चारȣ को पुनः Ēेड पे 4600/- का लाभ Ǒदनाक 17.09.2010 से (बेͧ सक पे 21500/-) Ĥदान ͩ कया गया एवं पीपीओ संÉया 20257320300348 Ǒदनांक 27.08.2025 को लेवल 7 मɅ बेͧ सक पे ǽ. 105900/- के आधार पर ͩ कया गया।
3वी एमएसीपी लाभ Ēेड पे 4600/- Ǒदनांक 01.09.2018 से (बेͧ सक पे 88700/-) कम[चारȣ का अंǓतम वेतन-109100/-
उÈत आधार पर अगèत 2012 से फरवरȣ 2025 तक तैयार एǐरयर ǽ. 816794/- का भुगतान लेखा ͪ वभाग के अंǓतम अनुभाग ɮवारा CO7 Đमांक 32030726700008 के माÚयम से Ǒदनांक 08.04.2026 को कर Ǒदया गया है।”
In respect of Applicant No.4, Shri Govind Singh Chauhan:
Central Administrative Tribunalउ×ƣर मÚय रेलवे “काया[लय मंडल रेल Ĥबंधक (का) झाँसी Ǒदनांक-27.03.2026 पğ संÉया पी/पीएफ/ͪ वͪ वध/ टȣआर मुÉय ͪ वͬ ध सहायक उ मरे झांसी ͪ वषय- Įी गोͪ वÛद ͧ संह चौहान भूपू, मेल गाड[ झांसी के कोट[ Ĥकरण के सàबÛध मɅ उपलÞध ǐरकाड[ के आधार पर पदोÛनǓत सàबÛधी समèत जानकारȣ उपलÞध कराने के सàबÛध मɅ।
उपरोÈत ͪ वषयांतग[त Įी गोͪ वÛद ͧ संह चौहान 0भूपू मेल गाड[ के कोट[ Ĥकरण के सàबÛध मɅ उपलÞध ǐरकाड[ के आधार पर पदोÛनǓत सàबÛधी समèत जानकारȣ Ǔनàनͧ लͨ खत है
कम[चारȣ कȧ ǓनयुिÈत Ēेड पे 2800/- (Ǒदनांक 24.05.1990) पदोÛनǓत Ēेड पे 4200/- (01.11.2003) (वेतनमान 5000-8000) (वǐरçठ गुɬस गाड[) 2वी एमएसीपी लाभ Ēेड पे 4600/- Ǒदनांक 24.05.2010 से (बेͧ सक पे 21500/-) मेल गाड[ पदोÛनǓत (सामाÛय पदोÛनǓत) Ǒदनांक 28.02.2014
रेलवे बोड[ ɮवारा आरबीई 142/2012 Ǒदनांक 13.12.2012 मɅ जारȣ ǑदशाǓनदȶशानुसार कम[चारȣ को Ǒदया गया Ēेड पे ǽ.4600/- का लाभ वापस लेकर कम[चारȣ को पुनः Ēेड पे ǽ.4200/- मɅ कर Ǒदया गया।
2वी एमएसीपी लाभ Ēेड पे 4200/- Ǒदनाक 27.09.2010 से (बेͧ सक पे 21100/-) 2वी एमएसीपी लाभ Ēेड पे 4200 /- Ǒदनांक 27.09.2020 से (बेͧ सक पे 88700/-) कम[चारȣ कȧ èवैिÍछक सेवाǓनवृͪƣ Ǒदनांक 09.01.2024 को लेवल 6 अथा[त Ēेड पे 4200/- (बेͧ सक पे 96900/-) मɅ हो गयी एवं इसी आधार पर पीपीओ संÉया 20247320300048 Ǒदनांक 23.02.2024 जारȣ ͩ कया गया।
पुनः माननीय सवȾÍच Ûयायालय एसएलपी (ͧ सͪ वल) डायरȣ संÉया 43090/2023 भारत संघ एवं अÛय बनाम स×य नारायण एवं अÛय मɅ Ǒदये गये आदेश Ǒदनांक 12.12.2023 के अनुपालन मɅ कम[चारȣ को पुनः Ēेड पे 4600/- का लाभ Ǒदनाक 24.05.2010 से (बेͧ सक पे 21500/-) एवं 3वी एमएसीपी के लाभ Ǒदनांक 27.09.2020 (बेͧ सक पे 91400/-) Ĥदान ͩ कया गया एवं पीपीओ संÉया 20247320300048 Ǒदनांक 14.05.2025 को लेवल 7 मɅ बेͧ सक पे ǽ. 99800/- के आधार पर ͩ कया गया।
उÈत आधार पर तैयार एǐरयर ǽ.349928/- का भुगतान ͩ कया जा चुका है िजसका सीओ 07 Đमांक 32030725700586 Ǒदनांक 11.12.2025 है।“
Learned counsel for the applicant, however, submits that mere filing of the Supplementary Compliance Affidavit and payment of the amounts referred to therein would not by itself amount to complete compliance of the order of this Tribunal. It is contended that the difference of amount arising under Grade Pay of Rs.4,800/- as well as the gratuity amount has not been paid to the applicants. Learned counsel submits that the respondents cannot claim closure of the contempt proceedings merely on the basis of payment of certain arrears when the operative directions of the Tribunal have not been fully complied with.
Per contra, learned counsel for the respondents submits that the directions contained in paragraph 25 of the order dated 15.11.2018 have been acted upon and applicant-wise financial upgradation particulars, restoration of Grade Pay and payment of consequential arrears have been placed on record. It is submitted that the jurisdiction in contempt is confined to examining whether there has been deliberate and wilful disobedience of the operative directions of the Tribunal and cannot be enlarged into adjudication of a fresh or disputed claim for further MACP benefits.
Learned counsel for the respondents has placed reliance upon the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in J.S. Parihar v. Ganpat Duggar & Others, (1996) 6 SCC 291, particularly paragraph 6, to submit that once consequential action has been taken in purported compliance of the Court’s order, a dispute as to the correctness of such consequential decision constitutes a fresh cause of action and cannot, merely on that ground, be treated as wilful disobedience of the original order.
Learned counsel for the respondents has further relied upon the subsequent judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Union of India & Others v. Harbans Lal Verma, 2026 INSC 739, decided on 23.07.2026, whereby the Hon’ble Supreme Court has examined the applicability of Paragraph 8 of the MACPS to the Guard cadre and held that functional promotions within the Guard cadre are liable to be counted for the purposes of MACPS. It is contended that the said judgment has an important bearing on any claim for further MACP benefits beyond those already extended to the applicants.
We have considered the rival submissions and have carefully gone through the record, including the order dated 15.11.2018 passed in O.A. No. 773/2013, the subsequent orders passed in the present contempt proceedings, the Compliance Affidavit and Supplementary Compliance Affidavit filed by the respondents, the objections filed by the applicant and the material placed on record by both sides.
From the order dated 15.11.2018, it is evident that the respondents were directed to consider and extend the benefit of financial upgradation under MACP to the applicants who were eligible for the same, keeping in view the judgment dated 19.07.2013 passed by the Allahabad High Court and the discussion contained in paragraph 24 thereof. The benefit of MACP already granted to the applicants was also directed not to be recovered.
On a consideration of the aforesaid direction, it is evident that the Tribunal had not directed the respondents to grant any particular Grade Pay to all the applicants as an automatic consequence. The respondents were required to consider extending the benefit of financial upgradation under MACP to such applicants as were found eligible, keeping in view the judgment dated 19.07.2013 passed by the Allahabad High Court in Writ-A No.18244/2013 and the discussion contained in paragraph 24 of the Tribunal’s order. At the same time, the MACP benefit already granted to the applicants was directed not to be recovered.
The applicant-wise records placed on record by the respondents show that pursuant to the aforesaid proceedings, the benefit of Grade Pay of Rs.4,600/- earlier withdrawn under RBE No.142/2012 was restored to the applicants with effect from their respective dates and consequential arrears were paid. In the case of Shri Ravindra Kumar, 3rd MACP in Grade Pay of Rs.4,600/- with effect from 01.09.2018 has also been shown. The respondents have thus undertaken a fresh applicant-wise exercise and have placed the relevant service particulars, financial upgradations and payment of arrears on record.
We may at this stage notice the subsequent judgment of the Apex Court in Union of India & Others v. Harbans Lal Verma, 2026 INSC 739, decided on 23.07.2026. The controversy before the Apex Court related to the counting of promotions within the Guard cadre for the purposes of MACPS. While considering the applicability of Paragraph 8 of the MACPS to the Guard cadre, the Apex Court, in paragraph 65(i), held as follows:
Central Administrative Tribunal(i) Paragraph 8 of the MACPS applies to the Guard cadre. The posts of Senior Goods Guard, Passenger Guard, Senior Passenger Guard, and Mail/Express Guard are distinct posts in the promotional hierarchy as per the applicable Recruitment Rules, carrying the same Grade Pay of Rs. 4200 in Pay Band PB-2. The functional promotions earned within the Guard cadre constitute ‘promotions’ within the meaning of Paragraph 8. An employee who has traversed the Guard cadre up to Mail/Express Guard has earned three promotions counted under Paragraph 8 (with the Passenger Guard to Senior Passenger Guard movement ignored under Paragraph 5) and has thereby exhausted all three financial upgradation slots under the MACPS. He is not entitled to any further financial upgradation.”
The Apex Court has also specifically dealt with the effect of the aforesaid judgment upon the benefits already granted pursuant to individual orders of the Tribunal or High Court. In paragraph 68 of the judgment, the Apex Court observed as follows:
“68.The decision of this Court, as set out in this judgment, shall operate in the following terms: all similarly situated Railway Guards across Indian Railways who have traversed the Guard cadre up to Mail/Express Guard and whose MACP claims at Grade Pay Rs. 4600 and Rs. 4800 were denied or withdrawn pursuant to RBE No. 76/2011, RBE No. 142/2012, or any administrative order consistent with this judgment, and who have not already received those benefits pursuant to individual orders that have attained finality and been implemented inter partes, shall have their MACP positions regulated in accordance with the law as declared in this judgment. Employees who have received MACP benefits pursuant to orders of a Tribunal or High Court that have attained finality between the parties concerned and have been implemented shall not be subjected to any recovery or revision on the basis of this judgment.”
Thus, while the Apex Court has declared the subsequent legal position regarding the applicability of Paragraph 8 of the MACPS to the Guard cadre, it has also expressly protected benefits which have been received pursuant to individual orders of a Tribunal or High Court which have attained finality between the parties and have been implemented.
However, the aforesaid subsequent declaration of law has to be considered in the context of the limited jurisdiction of contempt proceedings. The respondents have relied upon the judgment of the Apex Court in J.S. Parihar v. Ganpat Duggar & Others, (1996) 6 SCC 291, wherein the principle has been laid down that once consequential action is taken pursuant to the Court’s direction, a dispute regarding the correctness of such consequential decision gives Central Administrative Tribunalrise to a fresh cause of action and cannot, merely on that account, be treated as wilful disobedience of the original order. The question before us, therefore, is not to adjudicate afresh the substantive entitlement of the applicants to any further MACP benefit, but to determine whether the operative directions contained in the order dated 15.11.2018 have been wilfully disobeyed.
In this context, the applicant’s grievance regarding the alleged differential amount relatable to Grade Pay of Rs.4,800/- and gratuity has also to be examined. The Supplementary Compliance Affidavit and the applicant-wise records show that the respondents have restored the benefit of Grade Pay of Rs.4,600/- and have paid the consequential arrears. The claim for any further benefit beyond what has been restored, however, would involve determination of substantive entitlement and cannot, in the present proceedings, be treated by itself as proof of deliberate or wilful disobedience.
The record, therefore, indicates that the respondents have taken consequential steps in pursuance of the Tribunal’s order and have placed the compliance exercise before the Tribunal. In the absence of any material showing deliberate or wilful defiance of the operative directions of the Tribunal, the ingredients of civil contempt are not made out. Any surviving claim of the applicants concerning further financial entitlement or any consequential monetary benefit, if otherwise permissible in law, would remain open to be pursued in appropriate substantive proceedings.
In view of the above, we find that the respondents have substantially complied with the directions contained in the order dated 15.11.2018 passed in O.A. No.773/2013. Accordingly, the Contempt Petition is hereby consigned to record. The notices issued to the respondents stand discharged. However, the applicants shall be at liberty to avail of such legal remedy as may be available to them in accordance with law.
All pending M.As, if any, shall be treated as disposed of.