Contempt petitions closed on undertaking to extend outstanding notional seniority and pay benefits.

By a common order dated 15 January 2024 in the two O.As., the Tribunal set aside the respondents’ communications rejecting the applicants’ claims and directed that they be offered appointment as Junior Engineer (QA), with notional appointment from the date on which other candidates from the same selection were appointed, notional seniority and pay fixation, and consequential benefits; compliance was directed within four weeks.

The applicants filed these contempt petitions alleging non-compliance.

The respondents produced an internal communication dated 17 September 2026 recording competent-authority approval to implement the order and stated that appointment offers had been issued.

The petitioners maintained that notional seniority, pay fixation and consequential benefits had not yet been extended.

1. Whether the respondents had complied with the Tribunal’s directions in the common order dated 15 January 2024.

2. Whether any matter remained for consideration in the contempt petitions when the respondents undertook to issue an order extending the outstanding benefits within four weeks.

The Tribunal’s operative directions in the underlying O.As. required appointment offers, subject to statutory requirements; notional appointment from the date other candidates from the same selection were appointed; notional seniority and pay fixation from that date; actual benefits from the date of joining; and consequential benefits.

The present order cites no statute or precedent; it addresses compliance with those specific directions.

The respondents’ communication showed that the competent authority had approved implementation, and counsel stated that appointment offers had been issued.

However, the petitioners’ outstanding concern was that notional seniority, pay fixation and consequential benefits had not yet been granted.

The Tribunal accepted the respondents’ undertaking that those benefits would be extended and that an order giving effect to them would be issued within four weeks of receipt of the present order.

On that basis, it considered that nothing further remained for determination in the contempt petitions.