M.Bathirasamy v. State Of Tamilnadu,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

Dated : 20.02.2024

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN W.P.No.4018 of 2024 and WMP.No.4343 of 2024 1 M.Bathirasamy 2 M.Ramkumar 3 S.Vithya 4 S.Hemalatha 5 P.Nithya 6 T.Tamizharasan 7 7.S.Vasanthi 8 E.Ajantha 9 D.Deivasigamani 10 1R.Ranjani 11 11K.Lavanya 12 G.Mahimai Doss 13 K.Sumathi 14 N.Kowsalaya 15 Shanmuga Priya 16 M.Jacqulin Jenova Mary 17 S.Nithya 18 18.M.Boobalan 19 19.S.Murali 20 K.Veerasekaran 21 21V.Mallika 22 K.Manathunai Nathan 23 T.Bala Iranian 24 S.Jeyaveni 25 P.Shanthi 26 M.Subramanian 27 A.Tamizharasan 1/20

28 A.Peruma 29 K.Arulanandam 30 A.Velankanni 31 3N.Vanitha 32 P.Mercy 33 B.Rajendran 34 D.Santhi 35 C.S.Vijayalakshmi 36 A.Geetha 37 S.Rathinasamy 38 R.Manickarani 39 P.Ambikapathi 40 P.Suseela 41 R.S.Umadevi 42 P.Sujatha 43 D.Sheela Devi 44 R.Hemavathi 45 K.Rani 46 J.Sathiya Priya 47 K.P.Murugan 48 4T.Kavitha 49 P.Ramakrishnan 50 K.Rathinaswamy 51 V.Jagadhiswari 52 C.Pushpalatha 53 V.Muthukrishnan 54 S.M.Santhi 55 T.Merina Selvi Rubi 56 J.Gnanammal 57 A.Saridha 58 A.Arivukodi 59 K.Pugalendi 60 M.Ameenabi 61 S.Selvam 62 M.Sumathi 63 M.Sagaya Amalorpavam 64 K.Jegadeesan 65 K.Sowjanya Sagila 2/20

66 A.Kavitha 67 N.Sethamarai 68 A.Brinda 69 S.Guhan 70 S.Venkatesh 71 R.Seetharaman 72 K.Sivaraman 73 R.Balaraman 74 Y.Sheela Santha Kumari 75 M.B.Dhanalakshmi 76 K.Subramani 77 S.Rani 78 O.S.Karthikeyan 79 A.E.Gireja 80 S.Kumaravel 81 M.Sasikala 82 K.J.Latha 83 R.Dananjayan 84 D.Esther Rani 85 S.Dhanalakshmi 86 M.G.Kumar 87 K.G.Saravanan 88 K.Subramaniyan 89 S.Srinivasan 90 K.Bhuvaneswari 91 M.Anu Radha 92 G.Mala 93 R.Roselin 94 R.Rajalakshmi 95 T.Shobana 96 G.Porkkodi 97 V.Vijayakumari 98 K.Bhavani 99 K.Ponmudi 100 K.Raja 101 V.Rajendran 102 A.Vincent 103 M.Mala 104 R.Antony Preetha 3/20

105 C.Krishnamoorthi 106 P.Jayanthi 107 S.P.Rajaboopathi 108 S.Vijaya Nirmala 109 M.Sivasundari 110 R.Radhakrishnan 111 A.Murugadoss 112 K.Vembu 113 S.Balasubramaniam 114 T.Gurumoorthi 115 M.Shakila Anandhi 116 S.Prema 117 N.Jothi 118 P.Vinotha 119 U.Vijayasagayam 120 S.Palanisamy 121 K.Kumuthavalli 122 S.Rajarajeswari 123 G.Thenmozhi 124 N.Subramanian 125 K.Punitha 126 P.Preetha 127 V.C.Sasikala 128 S.R.Dharmalingam 129 M.Ranganayaki 130 N.Kowsalya 131 K.Yuvavathi 132 N.Viajayakumar 133 K.Saraswathi 134 R.Vasanthi 135 P.Vasanthamani 136 C.Gunasekari 137 M.Mythili 138 R.Yamuna 139 K.Manoharan 140 C.Deepa 141 L.Mohan Babu 142 K.Kalpana 143 C.Nidhya 4/20

144 M.Vasantha 145 S.Manjula 146 K.Devi 147 R.Renuka Devi 148 K.Kumar 149 P.Jeeva 150 A.Samboornam 151 S.Kavitha 152 S.L.Uma 153 M.Gowri 154 S.Chithra 155 D.Saravanan 156 J.Amala Rani 157 M.Punnagai Mary 158 C.Mani 159 A.Kanagaraj 160 V.Janaki 161 V.Deepamani 162 R.Rajathi 163 K.Govindammal 164 J.Nancy 165 P.Gowthami 166 N.Geetha 167 K.Jancy Rani 168 A.Roshnajohn 169 K.Kavitha 170 A.Kalamani 171 C.J.Sheeba Rosalin 172 M.Ravichandran 173 S.V.Mallika 174 S.Sheeba Josephin 175 J.Prema 176 T.Ramesh 177 D.Samuel 178 A.Poongothai 179 C.Selvi 180 M.Karthiveni 181 P.Gnanarathinam 182 S.Sarath Arulmaran 5/20

183 G.Kiruthiga 184 S.Kumar 185 A.Akila 186 E.Latha Jayakumari 187 D.Parimala Ezilarasi 188 Y.Janci Priya 189 D.Vidhya 190 M.S.Shahar Banu 191 K.Kalanithi 192 A.Bindharasi 193 T.P.Valli 194 M.Daisy 195 G.Padmavathi 196 R.Senthamarai 197 N.Leelavathi 198 G.Vithya 199 A.Johnmary 200 M.Balambigai 201 K.Gunasundari 202 U.Selvi 203 M.Vijaya 204 R.Malathi 205 A.Pushpavathi 206 V.Arulmurugan 207 A.Shanthi 208 R.Saravanan 209 A.Senthil Kumar 210 M.Prakash 211 K.T.Bhuvaneswari 212 P.Pushpakala 213 K.Selva Lalitha 214 N.Revathi 215 N.Murugan 216 S.Anitha 217 R.Saranya 218 G.Josephin Mary 219 T.Sahaya Selvaraja 220 S.Alice Jebamani 221 K.Priya 6/20

222 M.Kalpana 223 E.Rajasekari 224 S.Shaitha Begum 225 D.Sandhiya 226 S.Maheswari 227 S.Saritha 228 V.Muthulakshmi 229 R.Senthilnathan 230 C.S.Indhumathi 231 J.Suguna 232 M.Saravanamoorthy 233 J.Ruth Susan Balantyne 234 D.Usha 235 M.Mahalakshmi 236 P.M.Grace Nayai 237 P.S.Renuka 238 D.Doss 239 M.Dhinakar 240 L.Maria Borna Revathy 241 U.Velanganni 242 A.C.Sivakumar 243 S.Sofia Rani 244 P.K.Jayasankar 245 S.Rajeswari 246 S.Indumathi 247 L.Arul Jothi 248 S.Chithra 249 S.Jayarani 250 P.Samathanam 251 G.Leema Rose 252 R.Sheeba 253 A.Sathiyakuamri 254 J.Kulandai Theresammal 255 M.Juliet Prakasi 256 P.R.Jeyalakshmi 257 L.Anitha 258 T.C.Rosario 259 N.Deivayanai 260 L.Sundarraj 7/20

261 V.Virgin Mary 262 M.Padmavathy 263 S.Revathy 264 V.Vani 265 G.Vijayam 266 M.K.Revathy 267 S.David Jebakumar 268 J.Joyce Mary 269 K.Mary 270 S.Usha 271 D.Beril Gnanapushpam 272 A.Mangayarkarasi 273 L.Lakshmanan 274 S.Saraswath 275 K.Shenbagavalli 276 M.S.Helen Margaret 277 S.Alagulakshmi 278 J. Benny Samraj 279 D.Gopal 280 A.Velankanni 281 T.Sangeetha 282 F.Roselin Nisha 283 S.Vathsala 284 D.Jesi Sathya Rani 285 G.C.Celina Mary 286 R.Thirumala 287 D.Gopal 288 M.Amul 289 R.Gajalaskhmi 290 P.Ramya 291 G.Shyamala 292 M.Hemalatha 293 R.Latha 294 R.Gnanasoundari 295 T.Mahalakshmi 296 C.Purushothaman 297 S.Ramola Mabel 298 R.Mumtaj Begum 299 K.Latha 8/20

300 S.Kavitha 301 G.Sudha 302 P.Viajayalakshmi 303 V.Indumathi 304 B.Sudha 305 M.Iarin 306 C.Lalitha Devi 307 G.P.Gayathri 308 R.Selvarani 309 T.Tamilarasi 310 V.Meenakshi 311 K.Aruna 312 R.Premalatha 313 K.Dhanalakshmi 314 A.Porkodi 315 S.Lurthu Mary 316 V.S.Kavitha 317 V.Subramaniam 318 M.Krishnakumari 319 S.Arul Jothi 320 S.Dhanalakshmi 321 A.EMACULATE RANI 322 R.VIOLET ROSELIN 323 S.PATRICIA 324 B.KANCHANA 325 B.UMAMAHESWARAN 326 S.LALITHA 327 B.MOGANA 328 S.SARASWATHI 329 .A.RAVI 330 S.SOWTHAMI 331 P.CHITHRA 332 V.ANBU 333 R.KRISHNAMOORTHY 334 J.KAVITHA SELVAKUMARI 335 C.PRAKASH 336 B.JEEVA 337 .M.SASIKALA 338 M.KANNADHASAN 9/20

339 S.THIRUNAVUKKARASU 340 M.BALAMANI 341 R.STELLA 342 A.PREMA SELVA KUMARI 343 .M.VENNILA 344 K.SAWOOD AHMED 345 L.AMUTHA 346 E.CHITHIRAVENI 347 S.THIRUMALAI SELVI 348 G.AMUTHA 349 K.RAVIKUMAR 350 C.RAJENDRAN 351 M.DINAKARAN 352 A.GEETHA 353 K.PREMA 354 V.JOTHI 355 R.HEMAVATHI 356 P.KAVITHA 357 G.DEIVASIGAMANI 358 V.SIRANJEEVILU 359 T.GANDHI 360 V.C.SELVAKUMARI 361 T.UMARANI 362 B.SUGUNA 363 K.SANTHOSH KUMAR 364 A.DEEPAK 365 M.SARASWATHI 366 .R.MARY KOLIPICHAI SELVARANI 367 .S.PRABAVATHI 368 V.RAVI 369 Y.THEBORAL SELVAKUMARI 370 Y.RACHEAL PARIMALA 371 V.S.GUNASEELI 372 B.AMBIGA 373 T.VILVANATHAN 374 B.POORNIMA 375 R.MUBASHIRA ANJUM 376 R.TAMILSELVI 10/20

377 G.LAKSHMI 378 R.JAYACHANDRAN 379 R.PRIYA 380 M.KAVITHA 381 V.KALAISELVAN 382 G.AZHAGIRI 383 R.BARATHAN 384 .B.PURUSUTHAMAN 385 P.JANAKIRAMAN 386 C.BABU 387 C.PARVATHI 388 T.PREMAKUMARI 389 R.SARATHA 390 S AMUTHA 391 C.MARY JOSEPHIN PREMA 392 B.VASANTHI ANNADURAI 393 K.BAVANI 394 .S.VEDACHALAM 395 B.PONNI ANNADURAI 396 G.JOTHI 397 A.R.MENAKA 398 R.SHABBEER AHMED

...Petitioners

Vs.

1.The State of Tamilnadu, Rep. by its Chief Secretary to Government, Human Resources Management (FR-IV) Department, Previously known as Personnel and Administrative Reforms (FR-IV) Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-9 2.State of Tamilnadu, Represented by its Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of School Education, Fort St.George, Chennai-9 3.The Director of Elementary Education, DPI Campus, Chennai-6

...Respondents

11/20

Prayer :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records pertaining to the impugned Government Order in GO.Ms.No.37 Personnel and Administrative Reforms (FR-IV) Department dated 10.03.2020 insofar as the clause 6(vi) is concerned and the consequential impugned order in GO.Ms.No.95 Human Resources Management (FR-IV) department dated 26.10.2023 on the file of the respondent no.1 and quash the same as illegal and consequently for a direction, directing the respondents to grant incentive increment to the petitioners for acquiring higher qualification of B.Ed and PG degrees and revise the scale of pay along with arrears and other monetary benefits within the time period stipulated by this Court. For Petitioners : Mr.K.Thilageswaran For Respondents For R1 : Mr.V.Veluchamy, Additional Government Pleader For R2 & 3 : Mrs.C.Mythereye Chandru, Special Government Pleader

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed to quash the Government Order in GO.Ms.No.37 Personnel and Administrative Reforms (FR-IV) Department dated 10.03.2020 insofar as the clause 6(vi) is concerned and the consequential order in GO.Ms.No.95 Human Resources Management 12/20

(FR-IV) department dated 26.10.2023 on the file of the first respondent and consequently to direct the respondents to grant incentive increment to the petitioners for acquiring higher qualification of B.Ed and PG degrees and revise the scale of pay along with arrears and other monetary benefits. 2.

The case of the petitioners is that they are working as Secondary Grade Teachers, B.T.Assistants, Primary School Headmasters, Middle School Headmasters in the Government Schools (Panchayat Union Primary and Panchayat Union Middle Schools) coming under the 3rd Respondent Elementary Education Department. They have completed the higher qualifications such as B.Ed. and other Post Graduation Degrees and they were not granted the incentive increments. Originally the State of Tamil Nadu has issued the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.42 Education Department dated 10.01.1969 by which a decision was taken to grant incentive increment to the teachers for acquiring higher qualifications. Thereafter it was clarified by the Government vide G.O.Ms.No.1023 Education, Science and Technology Department dated 9.12.93 that the School Teachers are entitled for maximum of two sets of incentive increments for acquiring higher qualification. Hence in view those Government Orders, they are entitled for grant of two set of incentive 13/20

increments. But pointing out the Clause No.6(VI) of the Impugned Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.37 dated 10.03.2020, their request seeking grant of incentive for acquiring higher qualification was kept under cold storage stating that necessary permission has been sought for from the first respondent. Though the first Respondent has issued a clarification vide G.O.Ms.No.116 dated 15.10.2020 to the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.37 dated 10.03.2020 stating that those who have completed the higher qualification before 10.03.2020 are entitled for incentive increment, the third Respondent has not granted the incentive increment in their favour. The first Respondent issued the consequential impugned Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.95 dated 26.10.2023, in which it has been decided to grant one lump sum of Rs.

20,000/- to all those employees whose incentive increment request is pending consideration in uniformity with the employees who acquired higher qualification after 10.03.2020, which is is highly arbitrary, unjust and unlawful. Their request seeking incentive increment was kept pending without any justification. All similarly placed teachers who have acquired the higher qualification have been granted incentive increment and denial of incentive increment to the petitioners alone is nothing but discrimination.

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3.

Heard, the learned counsel appearing on either side. 4.

The Government passed G.O. (Ms) No. 37, Personnel and Administrative Reforms (FR-IV) department, dated 10.03.2020, wherein it has clearly been mentioned as follows:- "The cases of Government servants who have acquired higher qualification prior to issue of this general order, and not sanctioned with advance increments be examined separately as per the previous orders issued, if any, by the administrative department concerned and with reference to the posts specified in that order and if he is otherwise qualified, then the advance increment may be sanctioned by the administrative department concerned after obtaining concurrence of Finance department. If no previous orders were issued by any of the department concerned, then they are not eligible for sanction of any advance increments for passing higher qualification irrespective of the post held/degree acquired."

5. Certain clarification have been issued in G.O.(Ms) No.116, P&AR (FRIV) Dept., dated 15.10.2020 i.e., the cases of Government Servants who have acquired higher qualification prior to the date of issue of G.O. (Ms) No. 37, P&AR Dept., dated 10.03.2020 and appropriate orders to be issued before 31.03.2021. Based on the orders issued in G.O. (Ms) No.116, P&AR (FRIV) Dept., dated 15.10.2020, the cut off date for granting advance increment who have acquired higher qualification prior to 15/20

10.03.2020 has been extended from 10.03.2020 to 31.03.2021. Further, on exemption basis, all the pending claims have been allowed until the orders issued in G.O. (Ms) No. 95, Personnel and Administrative Reforms (FR-IV) Department, dated 26.10.2023.

6. Further, as a policy measure for welfare of Government Servants a new policy has been adopted on the analogy of Government of India and orders have been issued in G.O.Ms.No.120, Human Resources Management (FR-IV) Department, dated 01.11.2021, for granting incentive in the form of one-time lumpsum amount to the State Government Employees for having acquired additional qualification after 10.03.2020 as follows:- Sl.No.

Higher Qualification Amount 1.

Ph.D 25,000/- 2.

PG Degree or equivalent 20,000/- 3.

Degree/Diploma 10,000/-

7. Further, substantial number of claims are pending from candidates with higher educational qualifications. Hence, to expeditiously process and bring clarity to the scheme of granting incentive, in partial modification of the orders issued in GO (Ms)No. 116, Personnel and Administrative Reforms (FR-IV) Department, dated 15.10.2020 and G.O. (Ms)No. 120, 16/20

Human Resources Management (FR-IV) Department, dated 01.11.2021 and clarifications issued in Letter No.4470/FR-IV/2022-1, Human Resources Management (FR-IV) Department, dated 18.02.2022, the cut-off date for sanction of advance increments for having acquired higher educational qualifications ended and the new scheme of sanction of lumpsum amount is ordered to take effect from 10.03.2020.

8.

Thus, the clarification issued in G.O. (Ms)No.116, Personnel and Administrative Reforms (FR-IV) Department, dated 15.10.2020 and Letter No.4470/FR-IV/2022-1, Human Resources Management (FR-IV) Department, dated 18.02.2022 are harmonized to ensure that, all pending applications as on 10.03.2020 and claims made subsequently for sanction of benefits for having acquired higher educational qualifications shall be disposed as per this new scheme of granting lumpsum incentives only and not the earlier scheme of granting increments in salary. This principle would ensure expeditious disposal of all pending claims, and also maintain parity and equal treatment between the claims pending as on date and for the persons acquiring higher educational qualifications in future also. Even though the Petitioners have acquired their higher educational qualification, as per the orders issued in G.O. (Ms) No. 95, Personnel and Administrative Reforms (FR-IV) Department, dated 26.10.2023, the petitioners are not 17/20

eligible for sanction of advance increment for acquiring higher qualification since by the orders issued in the above, the lumpsum amount shall be granted only for those who have acquired higher qualification and not sanctioned with advance increment till date.

9. Now, as per the above Government Orders, those who had completed additional qualification are entitled to have only lumpsum incentive. Therefore, the request of the petitioners cannot be considered. As such, this writ petition is devoid of merits and liable to be dismissed.

10. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.

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To 1.The Chief Secretary to Government, State of Tamilnadu, Human Resources Management (FR-IV) Department, Previously known as Personnel and Administrative Reforms (FR-IV) Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-9 2.Principal Secretary to the Government, State of Tamilnadu, Department of School Education, Fort St.George, Chennai-9 3.The Director of Elementary Education, DPI Campus, Chennai-6 19/20

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.

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