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3. In so far as the subject matter of this OA is concerned, it revolves around the claim of the applicants, who are working in Lakshadweep Government Press in Lakshadweep, a Union Territory of Government of India, to declare that the post of Compositor Grade I of Lakshadweep Govt. Press (LGP for short) and DTP Operators in Government of India Presses are comparable and to direct the 2nd respondent to re-designate the post of Compositor Grade I at LGP as DTP Operator.

( • OA 1811003612014 Grade II, Highly Skilled Grade I, Master Craftsman and Technical Supervisor. Respective pay scales were also fixed under the various Ministries and Departments of Government of India where they were working. The OM may be seen at Annexure A1.

5. In line with Annexure Al the third respondent classified technical posts of printing staff working under the GIP and revised their pay scales including the post ofDTP Operators. However, Annexure Al did not include in its fold the Compositors Grade I at Lakshadweep Government Press. With the advent of offset printing, significant changes had come about in the functions and responsibilities of Compositors and after necessary training they started working as DTP Operators. However, this category came to be completely excluded from the purview of Annexure Al, as is seen. The grievance of the Compositors at Lakshadweep Government Press functioning as DTP Operators were compounded as DTP Operators of Government of India Presses were duly taken care of in the Memorandum. The applicants have been pursuing the case for upgrading their pay scales on the basis of the OM dated 31.10.1989 but all their efforts so far were unsuccessful.

7. By way of grounds the applicants argue that Annexure A9 is not a speaking order. The applicants have never sought pay revision at par with Compositors in the Government of India Presses as the nature of duties and responsibilities are distinct and different. The . nature of duties and responsibilities discharged by the Compositors at Lakshadweep Government Press (LGP) and DTP Operators in the Gol Presses are one and same and hence the applicants are entitled to get their pay revised at par with DTP operators of Goi presses. The Ist respondent has already re- designated the post of Compositors Grade II as Asstt. DTP Operator as could be seen from Annexure AS Recruitment Rules. The 2nd respondent has revised the pay scales of Machine Attendant/Machineman Gr.III/Machineman Gr.II/Senior Printer at par with the post of Offset Machineman of Gol presees. In other words, when the post of DTP operators at the GIP was classified as Master Craftsman and revised their • OA 1811003612014 pay scale as Rs. 1400-2300 by the 2nd respondent, those benefits were not extended to the applicants, which is discriminatory and violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

12. In so far as this OA is concerned the demand relates to fitment of Compositor Gr.I (even though they claim to be now working as DTP Operators) as equivalent to DTP Operators in Government of India Presses. As directed by this Tribunal, the third respondent had examined their demand and issued orders as per impugned Annexure A9. The operative part of the order is as follows:

• OA 181/0036/2014 "And whereas the representations of the applicants have been considered in the Ministry in consultation with Directorate of Printing. Directorate of Printing has made comparative study of the posts of Compositor Grade I, Compositor Grade II, Binder Grade I, Binder Grade II, Photo Type Setting Operators, Computer Grade II in Government Press, Lakshadweep Administration viz-a- viz similar posts in Govt. ofIndia Presses, which is enclosed. And whereas it is seen that the post of Binder Grade-l & Binder Grade II is already at par with the post of Binder and Assistant Binder in Govt. of India Presses. The post of Compositor Grade I and grade II have been abolished in Govt. of India Presses and the incumbents have been absorbed in the posts in identical pay scales, which are also at par with the posts of Compositor Grade I and Grade II in Govt. Press, Lakshadweep Administration. "