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3. With effect from 1st March 1978, under the orders of the Government of India dated 15th February 1978, all JFOs in the carpet weaving training centres of the All India Handicrafts Board were redesignated as Carpet Training Officers (CTOs) (Group-C non-Gazetted). While doing so, their pay scale was downgraded to Rs 550-20-650-25-800. As per the order of the All India Handicrafts Board dated 4 th June 1979, the Development Commissioner accorded sanction to redesignate the post of Junior Field Officers (JFOs) in the pay scale of Rs. 550/25/750/EB/30/900 as Handicrafts Promotion Officers (HPOs). It was observed in the order that the services rendered by the persons in the post of JFOs in All India Handicrafts Board shall be counted for seniority, leave, increment, confirmation, etc. in the posts of HPOs.

4. The Government of India in partial modification of the order dated 15th February 1978, by the order dated 16 th May 1997, directed that the officers who were holding the post of JFOs in the carpet scheme prior to 1st March 1978 and whose posts were redesignated as CTOs in the pay scale of Rs.550- 800 vide order dated 15th February 1978 shall be accorded restoration of pay scale of Rs.550-900 in Group B with effect from 1st March 1978. However, all conditions mentioned in the order dated 15th February 1978 will remain unchanged. The status of CTOs will be ad-hoc, subject to regularisation by UPSC as per the rules.

11. He pointed out that respondents cannot defeat their own order dated 4th June 1979, by which all JFOs appointed from 1975-78 were redesignated as HPOs. He submitted that a gross illegality was committed by redesignating about 60 JFOs as CTOs in a lesser grade and pay scale. He pointed out that JFOs who have been redesignated as HPOs and JFOs who were down-graded as CTOs were still maintaining a common list of seniority. He pointed out the order dated 16 th May 1997 and submitted that when, by that order, the appellant was removed from the cadre of CTO and was placed in the cadre of JFO, it was incumbent for the respondents to give benefits of the order dated 4 th June 1979 to the appellant. The learned counsel relied upon communication issued by the respondents on 22nd August 2000, which was addressed to the UPSC. In the said communication, respondents admitted that the appellant belongs to the category of CTOs who were redesignated from the post of JFOs Group-B, along with 45 others. It was admitted that they needed to be regularised and brought back to the designation and cadre of JFO. He relied upon the order passed in OA No. 2921 of 1997 by the CAT. He submitted that the action of the respondents in denying the benefit of the post of HPO to the appellant was arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

This issues with the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance vide their Diary No. 581/FC/96 dated 8.10.96 and Department of Personnel and Training vide their Diary No. U.O. No. C-126/97 Part I dated 9.4.97.”

18. The order can be analysed as under:-

i. The order was applicable to those officers who were holding the post of JFOs in the carpet scheme prior to 1st March 1978 and whose posts were redesignated as CTOs in the pay scale of Rs.550-800 vide order dated 15th February 1978;