P DAMODAR REDDY (M) , vs MINERAL EXPLORATION CORPORATION LIMITED (M) ,

TA Nos.

01/2021 to 17/2021, 19/2021, 20/2021, 22/2021, 24/ 2021 & 25/2021 Page 1 of 8 CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL HYDERABAD BENCH TA No.

01/2021(WP No.11498/2007) TA No.

02/2021(WP No.11501/2007) TA No.

03/2021(WP No.11510/2007) TA No.

04/2021(WP No.11539/2007) TA No.

05/2021(WP No.11541/2007) TA No.

06/2021(WP No.22937/2007) TA No.

07/2021(WP No.22943/2007) TA No.

08/2021(WP No.22953 /2007) TA No.

09/2021(WP No.22040 /2007) TA No.

10/2021(WP No.23639/2007) TA No.

11/2021(WP No.

3971/2008) TA No.

12/2021(WP No.4120/2008) TA No.

13/2021(WP No.11808/2008) TA No.

14/2021(WP No.11898/2008) TA No.

15/2021(WP No.11918/2008) TA No.

16/2021(WP No.11942/2008) TA No.

17/2021(WP No.11943/2008) TA No.

19/2021(WP No.11956/2008) TA No.

20/2021(WP No.11962/2008) TA No.

22/2021(WP No.23640/2008) TA No.

24/2021(WP No.11904/2008) TA No.

25/2021(WP No.26157/2008) HYDERABAD, this the 12nd day of January, 2023 Hon’ble Mr.

Sudhi Ranjan Mishra, Judl.

Member Hon’ble Mr.

B.

Anand, Admn.

Member TA No.

01/2021: S.

Gangadhar Rao, S/o.

Late Venkatappaiah, Hindu, Aged about 62 years, Retired Employee, R/o.

Flat No.203, Nomula Residency, Road No.5, S.R.K.

Puram, Opp.

Andhra Bank(ATM), P.O.

Saroornagar, Hyderabad – 500 035.

TA No.

02/2021: K.

Ashok Babu, S/o.

Late K.

Sridhara Rao, Hindu, Aged 64 years, Retired as Junior Mining Engineer in MECL, R/o.

Garuvu Road, Kanigantivari Veedhi, Repalle, Guntur Dist.

01/2021 to 17/2021, 19/2021, 20/2021, 22/2021, 24/ 2021 & 25/2021 Page 2 of 8 TA No.

03/2021: D.

Narasimha Rao, S/o.

Suryanarayana, Hindu, Aged about 65 years, Retired Employee, R/o.

Puram, P.O.

04/2021: C.

Prahalad, S/o.

Late Sriramchar, Hindu, Aged about 56 years, Retired as Assistant Manager(G) in MECL, R/o.

106/42, CSR Estate, HUDA Complex, Kothapet, Hyderabad- 500 035.

05/2021: C.L.

Prasad, S/o.

Ch.

Parvateesam, Hindu, Aged about 54 years, Retired Senior Engineer(Mines), R/o.

Flat No. .

Flat No.305, 3rd Floor, Srinivasa Towers, Srinivasa Nagar, Nandyal Post, Kurnool Dist.- 518 501.

06/2021: V.

Prabhakara Rao, S/o.

Late Subba Rao, Hindu, Aged about 61 years, Occ: Retd.

Employee, R/o.

H.No.

12-2-422/86, Priya Colony, Gudimalkapur, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad- 500 028.

07/2021: A.

Venkata Rami Reddy, S/o.

Late A.

Venkat Reddy, Aged about 59 years, Occ: Retired Employee, R/o.

4-260, Ushodaya Enclave, B.H.E.L.

HIG Phase-II, Miyapur, Madinaguda, Hyderabad- 500 049.

08/2021: Y.

Chandrasekhar Reddy, S/o.

Late Y.

Sheshu Reddy, Aged about 64 years, Occ: Retired Employee, R/o.

Flat No.207, Madhu Residency, Miyapur, Madinaguda, Hyderabad.

09/2021: S.

Ramulu, S/o.

S.

Appala Narsaiah, Hindu, Aged about 56 years, Retired Employee, R/o.

6-3-1215/B, NGO’s Colony, Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad- 500 070.

01/2021 to 17/2021, 19/2021, 20/2021, 22/2021, 24/ 2021 & 25/2021 Page 3 of 8 TA No.

10/2021: Mohd.

Yousuf, S/o.

M.

Abdul Karim, Muslim, Aged about 57 years, Occ: Retired Employee, R/o.

12-233, Adarsh Nagar, Opp: IDPL, Balanagar, Hyderabad- 37.

11/2021: P.

Kantha Rao, S/o.

P.

Bhaskara Rao, Hindu, Aged about 59 years, Occ: Retired Employee, R/o.

Plot No.

C-10/A, Co-operative Bank Colony, Road No.14, Nagole, Hyderabad- 500 068.

12/2021: S.B.

Ramanuja Charyulu, S/o.

Late S.

Sobhanadri Charyulu, Hindu, Aged about 59 years, Occ: Retired Employee, R/o.

Flat No.

102, Sai Siva Nilayam, Tirumala Nagar, Meerpet, Moulali, Hyderabad- 500 040.

13/2021: G.

Sharath Reddy, S/o.

Ayodyaram Reddy, Hindu, Aged 48 years, Ex-Employee of MECL., R/o.

2-3-837, Road No.14, Co-operative Bank Colony, Nagole, Hyderabad- 500 068.

14/2021: V.

Parthasarathi, S/o.

Dasharatharamaiah, Hindu, Aged about 57 years, Ex-Employee of MECL, R/o.

6-533, Ponguruvari Street, Alluru Village, Nellore District- 524 315.

15/2021: P.K.

Babu, S/o.

P.I.

Kuruvilla, Hindu, Aged about 57 years, Ex-Employee of MECL., R/o.

R/o.

12-1-426/12, Aditya Nagar, Beside Indra Prastha Colony, G.S.I.

Post, Bandlaguda, Nagole, Hyderabad- 500 068.

16/2021: M.

Bangar Reddy, S/o.

Late Venkatram Reddy, Hindu, Aged 45 years, Ex-Employee of MECL., R/o.

1273-B, NGO’s Colony, Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad- 500 070.

01/2021 to 17/2021, 19/2021, 20/2021, 22/2021, 24/ 2021 & 25/2021 Page 4 of 8 TA No.

17/2021: P.

Damodar Reddy, S/o.

Ramachandra Reddy, Hindu, Aged about 57 years, Ex-Employee of MECL., R/o.

Plot No.95, H.No.

9-83/1, Kamalanagar, Medipally, Uppal, R.R.

District, Hyderabad- 500 039.

19/2021: Ch.

Sampathi Rao, S/o.

Hanumanna, Hindu, Aged 50 years, Ex-Employee of MECL., R/o.

12-1-332, Road No.4, Anandanagar, Near Bandlaguda, G.S.I.

Complex, Post, Via: Nagole, Hyderabad- 500 068.

20/2021: T.R.

T.

Shankara Murthy, Hindu, Aged about 59 years, Ex-Employee of MECL., R/o.

C-9/A, Road No.14, Co-operative Bank Colony, Nagole, Hyderabad- 500 068.

24/2021: T.G.

Gnana Prakash, S/o.

K.

Naidu, Hindu, Aged about 59 years, Ex-Employee of MECL., R/o.

4/153, 4th Street, C-Sector, B.G.

Rao Nagar, Katpadi, Vellore-7, T.N. ...Applicants. (By Advocate: Mr.

T P Acharya for all the cases) Vs.

1.

Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd., Dr.

Baba Saheb Ambedkar Bhavan, High Land Drive Road, Seminary Hills, Nagpur- 400 006, Represented by its Chairman-cum-Managing Director.

2.

The Area Manager, Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd., G.S.I.

Complex, Bandlaguda, Hyderabad- 500 065. ...

Respondents in TA Nos.

01/2021 to 17/2021, 19/2021, 20/2021, 22/2021, 24/ 2021 & 25/2021. (By Advocate: Mr.

M Srikanth, SC for MECL for all the cases).

01/2021 to 17/2021, 19/2021, 20/2021, 22/2021, 24/ 2021 & 25/2021 Page 5 of 8 TA No.

22/2021: Y.

Shiva Reddy, S/o.

Late Ranga Reddy, Hindu, Aged about 64 years, Occ: Retired Employee, R/o.

87-1109-5, Ganesh Nagar, B-Camp Post, Kurnool- 518 002, A.P. … Applicant in TA No.22/2021. (By Advocate: Mr. ocate: Mr.

T P Acharya) Vs.

The Union of India, Rep. by its Secretary, Ministry of Steel & Mines, Sastri Bhavan, New Delhi- 110 011.

The Director General, Geological Survey of India, 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Calcutta- 700 016.

3.

The Deputy Director General, Geological Survey of India, Thyagarayanagar, Bandlaguda Post, Hyderabad- 500 065.

4.

Ms.

Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd., Represented by its Chairman & Managing Director, Seminary Hills, Dr.

Baba Sahed Ambedkar Bhavan, High Land Drive Road, Nagpur- 440 006.

5.

Complex, Bandlaguda, Hyderabad- 500 065. … Respondents in TA No.22/2021 (By Advocate: Mr.

M Srikanth, SC for MECL).

25/2021: V.

Late Subba Rao, Hindu, Aged about 62 years, Occ: Retired Employee, R/o.

12-2-422/86, Priya Colony, Gudimalkapur, Mehidipatnam, Hyderabad- 500 028. …Applicant in TA/25/2021. (By Advocate: Mr.

T P Acharya) TA Nos.

01/2021 to 17/2021, 19/2021, 20/2021, 22/2021, 24/ 2021 & 25/2021 Page 6 of 8 Vs.

The Deputy Director General, Northern Regional Office, Geological Survey of India, Lucknow.

Complex, Bandlaguda, Hyderabad- 500 065. ….Respondents in TA No.25/2021. (By Advocate: Mr.

01/2021 to 17/2021, 19/2021, 20/2021, 22/2021, 24/ 2021 & 25/2021 Page 7 of 8 --- COMMON ORDER(ORAL) (As per Hon’ble Mr.

Sudhi Ranjan Mishra, Judl. hra, Judl.

Member) These 22 applications have been transferred from the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature, AP at Hyderabad to this Tribunal vide Order dt.

11.06.2012, as the Central Government, on 15.12.2008, notified the Mineral Exploration Corporation of India Limited in terms of Sub- Section 2 of Section 14 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 and conferred jurisdiction on this Tribunal.

All these 22 applications have been taken up together and a common order is being passed, as the relief sought in all the applications is similar and against the same respondents.

The applicants are the retired employees of the Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited(MECL).

They opted for voluntary retirement prior to 01.04.2003.

The Government of India, Ministry of Mines, Vide Letters dt.

08.08.2006 & 17.08.2006, conveyed its approval for implementation of 1997 Wage Revision to the employees of MECL, wherein it has been categorically mentioned that the wage revision of employees to be effective from 01.04.2003 and to be implemented w.e.f.

01.04.2006.

Thereafter, the MECL issued Office Order dt.

25.08.2006 allowing wage revision to those who were on employment roll on 01.04.2003, as per the Govt. of India Letter dt.

17.08.2006.

The applicants are seeking the benefit of revised pay scales issued vide Officer Order dt.

25.08.2006 and consequential benefits thereto.

The subject matter of these cases have been decided by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Mineral Exploration TA Nos.

01/2021 to 17/2021, 19/2021, 20/2021, 22/2021, 24/ 2021 & 25/2021 Page 8 of 8 Corporation Ltd.

Vs.

Arvind Kumar Dixit & Anr. in CA No.

10697 of 2014 & Ors. decided on 03.12.2014 which held as under: “15.

The above mentioned cases, in our opinion, substantiate the argument of the appellant.

Therefore, we are of the view that the Central Administrative Tribunal and the High Court have erred in law in allowing the wage revision benefits to the employees, who were not covered either under c er under communication dated 08.08.2006 issued by the Government of India or the consequential Office Order dt.

25.08.2006 whereby the wage revision is implemented. xxx 18.

In view of the above law laid down by this Court, we do not find that the cut-off date i.e., 01.04.2003 for granting wage revision, in the facts and circumstances of the present case, is arbitrary nor we find it violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.

19.

For the reasons, as discussed above, we hold that the employees, who were superannuated or voluntarily retired prior to 01.04.2003 from appellant- Corporation, are not entitled to notional wage revision as directed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, and the High Court.

Therefore, we allow these appeals, and the impugned judgment of the High Court and that of the Central Administrative Tribunal are hereby set aside.

There shall be no order as to costs.” 5.

In view of the above judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, as the applicants herein retired from service prior to 01.04.2003, neither the benefit of wage revision issued vide Order dt.

25.08.2006 nor the notional wage revision can be extended to the applicants herein.

Accordingly, these applications are dismissed.

There shall be no order as to costs. (B ANAND) (SUDHI RANJAN MISHRA) MEMBER(A) MEMBER(J) /Ram./