The petitioner is a diet contractor supplying food to the patients in the hospital under the control of the second respondent. In pursuance of the orders of the Government in G.O.Ms.No.257, dated 31.05.1995, the petitioner is being paid Rs.10/- and Rs.15/- per head for supply of meal for general and T.B. patients respectively. Subsequently, due to hike in prices, the petitioner submitted a representation to the Government and the Government through G.O.Ms.No.255, Health, Medical and Family Welfare (C1) Department, dated 20.06.2003, enhanced the rate of the meal of the general inpatients from Rs.10/- to Rs.15/- and Rs.15/- to Rs.20/- for the T.B. patients. The said G.O. came into effect immediately. The petitioner complains that the second respondent is not paying enhanced rates sanctioned under G.O.Ms.No.255. Hence, he seeks direction to the second respondent to pay the enhanced rate for the meal that is being supplied by him. A Division Bench of this Court, through its order dated 19.07.2001 passed in W.A.No.280 of 2000 and batch, resolved the conflict by accepting the proposition that G.O.Ms.No.257 dated 31.05.1995 came into effect from 01.04.1995 and the consequential escalation charges have to be paid to the writ petitioners-diet contractors.
