(1.) The present Writ Petition has been filed impugning the Order dtd. 12/12/2013 passed in O.A. No. 2019 of 2012 (hereafter referred as "Impugned Order") by the Central Administrative Tribunal (hereafter referred as "CAT") in terms of which the CAT upheld the grant of higher pay on non-functional basis as set out in the Office Memorandum dtd. 24/4/2009 (hereafter referred as "OM dtd. 24/4/2009") issued by Respondent No. 1, i.e., the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The quintessential premise of the Petitioners' case is that the parity of pay in higher pay scale ought to have been granted in terms of the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission (hereafter referred as "CPC") and not as per the OM dtd. 24/4/2009. Accordingly, by means of the present Petition, the Petitioners have sought that the Impugned Order be set aside and as a consequence the grant of pay parity be made in accordance with recommendations of the 6th CPC.
(2.) The factual matrix, relevant to the adjudication of the present petition, is set out hereinbelow: -
(3.) By way of the Impugned Order, CAT dismissed O.A. No. 2019 of 2012 filed by the Petitioners holding as follows: -