Law Points Raised
• Dispute over pay scale parity between Traffic Apprentices recruited before and after 15-05-1987.
• Validity of Railway Board Memorandum dated 15-05-1987 under Rule 1A of Indian Railway Establishment Code.
• Jurisdiction of Supreme Court under Article 142 to issue directions for doing complete justice.
• Challenge to the application of M. Bhaskar judgment to parties not heard.
• Principles of natural justice and finality of CAT orders.
[Judgment Source]
Ratio Decidendi
• The Court upheld the 15-05-1987 cutoff as non-arbitrary and reasonable.
• The Railway Board had legal authority to differentiate pay scales for new recruits.
• No recovery of excess payment already made to employees affected by conflicting CAT orders.
• Article 142 permits equitable relief even when statutory law differs.
• The principle of finality of judgments holds unless contradicted by binding SC precedent.
Final Ruling
• Appeal dismissed; no interference with M. Bhaskar judgment.
• Pre-1987 Traffic Apprentices not entitled to higher revised pay scale (Rs. 1600–2660).
• Employees who had already received higher pay due to final CAT rulings would not face recovery.
• Clarified Supreme Court's power to harmonize conflicting lower tribunal orders under Article 142.
• Status quo maintained regarding promotions and pay until further orders.
Relevant Paragraph Numbers
• Para 17 – Key conclusions from M. Bhaskar's case.
• Para 18 – Equitable relief and non-recovery directions.
• Referral Order – Constitution Bench reference.
• Para on Article 142 – Complete justice jurisdiction.
• Final paras – Dismissal and clarification of scope.