RAJASTHAN STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD AND ORS. vs LAXMAN LAL ETC. ETC.

The Supreme Court held that the Rajasthan State Electricity Board's contention regarding the applicability of the First Settlement dated February 22, 1972, was valid only for employees appointed before April 1, 1974, as per Section 19(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Court ruled that the retrospective application of the Rajasthan State Electricity Employees (Emoluments) Regulations, 1978, which placed Meter Reader II/Meter Checker II in pay scale No. 2, was appropriate. Consequently, the appeals by the Board were allowed, overturning the High Court's decision to grant pay scale No. 3 to the employees appointed after April 1, 1974.