ASHOK KUMAR Vs. DELHI TRANSPORT CORPORATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS batch of 15 petitions arise out of the common order dated 31.01.2012 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi and are being disposed of together.

(2.) THE lead matter before the Tribunal was OA2410/2011 titled Shri. Ashok Kumar v. DTC. THE facts in all the petitions are virtually identical. THE issue which was raised before the Tribunal by the petitioners herein was that they were entitled to seek the benefits of the second financial upgradation in the year 2006 onwards but they were denied the same. THE facts are that the petitioners were initially appointed as Conductors with the respondent (DTC) on daily wages in 1982-83 and were regularized in the course of time. THE respondent implemented the ACP Scheme w.e.f. 12.08.2002. THE petitioners were subsequently, in 2005, appointed as Assistant Store Keepers on the basis of a selection process. THE appointment order covering all the petitioners was dated 06.06.2005 which, to the extent relevant, reads as under:-

(3.) IN fact the petitioners did not even challenge the appointment order till the filing of the original applications which were disposed of by the impugned order. IN this backdrop, the question of delay had also been gone into by the Tribunal and they found that the original applications filed by the petitioners were also barred on account of delay and laches.