R.Rosammal, v. The Secretary To Government,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 10.04.2015
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.HARIPARANTHAMAN W.P.NO.3630 OF 2015 R.Rosammal ...
Petitioner
Versus
1.The Secretary to Government School Education Department Government of Tamil Nadu Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director of Elementary Education College Road, Chennai - 600 006.
3.The District Elementary Educational Officer Thiruvallur District.
4.The Additional Assistant Elementary Educational Officer Ellapuram Union, Thiruvallur District.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents herein to pass appropriate order by extending the privilege and benefits of G.O.No.234, School Education, dated 10.09.2009 in order to grant the relief of monetary benefits for Selection Grade and Special Grade accordingly as the petitioner is seeking the similar relief already granted to others in this regard with reference to the Division Bench order of this Court, under W.P.Nos.18388 and 18389 of 2010 dated 29.08.2011. For Petitioner :
Mr.G.Thangavel For Respondents:
Mr.V.Jayaprakash Narayanan Special Government Pleader
O R D E R
Heard both sides. By consent, the writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself. 2.The petitioner's husband was appointed as Secondary Grade Teacher on 01.11.1973. He was granted Selection Grade on 01.11.1983 and Special Grade on 01.11.1993. He was promoted as Primary School Headmaster on 01.04.2000. He retired from service on 30.06.2002. Later, he died.
3.The grievance of the petitioner is that her husband should be granted Selection Grade / Special Grade in the post of Primary School Headmaster by counting the service rendered by him as Secondary Grade Teacher, when he was promoted as Primary School Headmaster.
4.Before 01.06.1988, the post of Secondary Grade Teacher and Primary School Headmaster carried the same scale of pay. Therefore, in fact, no seniority was followed for appointment to the post of Primary School Headmaster. When the scale of pay of Government employees and the Teachers was revised, pursuant to the recommendations of the V Pay Commission, in G.O.Ms.No.666, Finance Department, dated 27.06.1989, higher pay was fixed to the Primary School Headmaster and the Primary School Headmaster became the promotional post to Secondary Grade Teacher, with effect from 01.06.1988, the date on which the revised scale of pay came into effect.
5.While the scale of pay of Secondary Grade Teacher was revised to Rs.1200-2040 with effect from 01.06.1988, pursuant to V Pay Commission's recommendations, the scale of pay of the Primary School Headmaster with effect from 01.06.1988 was revised to Rs.1400-2600. Prior to the said revision, both the Secondary Grade Teacher and Primary School Headmaster were in the scale of pay of Rs.610-1075.
6.When the Primary School Headmaster became promotional post and higher scale was given to the said post, with effect from 01.06.1988, pursuant to G.O.Ms.No.666, Finance Department, dated 27.06.1989, the Government should have made clear that the juniors who were holding the post of Primary School Headmaster would be reverted, and the vacancies that would arise due to such reversion in the Primary School Headmaster posts, should have been filled up based on the seniority. But this was not done by the Government for the reasons best known to them. This led to a lot of litigations.
7.Ultimately, the Government issued various orders granting the benefit of Selection Grade / Special Grade to the Primary School Headmasters, by counting the service rendered by them as Secondary Grade Teachers, if they joined as Secondary Grade Teachers before 01.06.1988.
8.I have considered the entire history of the litigations in my judgment dated 11.11.2014 in W.P.No.25001 of 2012. A person, who joined as Secondary Grade Teacher before 01.06.1988 is entitled to claim the benefit of counting the service of Secondary Grade Teacher for Selection Grade and Special Grade in the post of Primary School Headmaster, if he is promoted as Primary School Headmaster. Thousands of Teachers were granted the benefits. Hence, there is no reason to deny the same to the petitioner herein. 9.Therefore, a direction is issued to the first respondent to grant Selection Grade / Special Grade to the petitioner's husband in the post of Primary School Headmaster by counting the service rendered by him as Secondary Grade Teacher; pay monetary benefits pursuant thereto; revise the terminal benefits; refix pension and other benefits and pay arrears of pension and other benefits, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
10.The writ petition is disposed of with the above observation and direction. No costs.
Sd/- Asst.Registrar (CO) /true copy/ Sub Asst. Registrar TK To 1.The Secretary to Government School Education Department Government of Tamil Nadu Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director of Elementary Education College Road, Chennai - 600 006.
3.The District Elementary Educational Officer Thiruvallur District.
4.The Additional Assistant Elementary Educational Officer Ellapuram Union, Thiruvallur District.
1 cc to Mr.G. Thangavel, Advocate, Sr. 19944 W.P.NO.3630 OF 2015 SAI (CO) kk 22/5