Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, J. - (1.) This appeal arises from a judgment of a Division Bench of the High Court of Kerala dated 16 November 2004.
(2.) The appellants were working at the material time as Head Operators and Operators under the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), a statutory body established by the State of Kerala on 1 April 1984. KWA implemented three pay revisions: (i) The first pay revision was on 13 February 1990, with effect from 1 July 1988; (ii) The second pay revision was on and with effect from 24 April 1995; and (iii) The third pay revision was on 19 August 1999, with effect from 1 March 1997.
(3.) Qualified operators were entitled to three grade promotions on the completion of 10, 18 and 25 years of service. Under the pay revision of 1999, the period of service for the third grade promotion was reduced from 25 to 23 years.;