Respondents directed to decide pending representations via reasoned and speaking orders within a stipulated timeframe.

Ten applicants, currently employed as Data Entry Operators Grade 'D' (DEO 'D') within the Ministry of Defence, filed an Original Application (OA) under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985

The applicants sought a declaration that the respondents' failure to grant them the Level 7 pay scale was illegal and requested a direction for pay fixation, arrears, and interest

The applicants had previously submitted representations regarding these grievances in November 2025

The Tribunal's Registry raised a procedural objection, noting the application was "premature" because the statutory six-month period for the disposal of administrative representations had not yet expired

During the hearing, the applicants limited their prayer to seeking a time-bound direction for the respondents to decide their pending representations

1. Whether the Tribunal should entertain an application that is technically premature under the statutory timeline for exhausting administrative remedies

2. Whether the respondents should be directed to dispose of the pending representations through a reasoned and speaking order within a specified timeframe

The court's jurisdiction was governed by Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, which stipulates the procedure for redressal of grievances by government servants

The Tribunal applied the principle of administrative law requiring authorities to dispose of representations via "reasoned and speaking orders" to ensure fairness and transparency in executive actions

The Tribunal exercised its discretionary power to waive procedural technicalities regarding the "premature" nature of the filing to provide limited relief at the admission stage

The Tribunal initially noted potential issues regarding the maintainability of a joint application, as the applicants had diverse paths to their current posts (promotion vs. appointment)

However, the focus shifted when the applicants requested only the disposal of their pending representations

Regarding the Registry’s objection that the OA was premature—filed before the six-month wait period following their November 2025 representations—the Tribunal overruled the objection and directed the assignment of an OA number to facilitate a prompt administrative resolution

The Tribunal chose not to examine the merits of the pay scale claim (Level 7), instead emphasizing that the administrative authorities must first exercise their judgment on the matter through a formal order

The Tribunal directed the respondents to decide the pending representations (Annexure A-1) by passing a reasoned and speaking order within eight weeks from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the judgment

All pending Miscellaneous Applications were disposed of, and no order as to costs was made