P.Velu v. The Government Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 29.07.2015
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.HARIPARANTHAMAN W.P.No.27338 of 2010
1. P.Velu
2. A.Meganathan .. Petitioners Vs.
1. The Government of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by the Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Director of Elementary Education, College Road, Chenai-600 006.
3. The District Elementary Educational Officer, Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District.
4. The Accountant General (A&E), Chennai - 600 018.
.. Respondents * * * Prayer : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order of the first respondent in G.O.Ms.No.210, Education (G1) Department, dated 14.08.2009, and to quash the same insofar as it restricts the benefit of pay fixation only to 65 headmasters who had filed writ petitions and direct the respondents to extend the benefit of G.O.Ms.No.210, School Education Department, dated 14.08.2009, to the petitioners also and count the service rendered by them in the post of Primary School Headmaster and Middle School Headmaster prior to 01.06.1988 along with the service rendered in the post of Middle School Headmaster after 01.06.1988 and accordingly fix their pay in the selection / special grades of Middle School Headmaster and grant them all consequential benefits.
* * * For Petitioners :
Mr.P.Rajendran For Respondents :
Mr.D.Krishnakumar Special Government Pleader for RR 1-3 Mr.V.Vijayashankar for R4
ORDER
Heard both sides.
2.1. Before 01.10.1970, the post of Secondary Grade Teacher, Primary School Headmaster and Middle School Headmaster carried the same scale of pay.
2.2. After 01.10.1970, the post of Middle School Headmaster became a promotional post. However, the juniors were retained, after 01.10.1970, in the post of Middle School Headmaster. This led to various litigations.
2.3. In these circumstances, the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.784, Rural Development and Local Administration Department, dated 14.05.1979, reverting the juniors, who are holding the post of Middle School Headmaster as on 01.10.1970, as Secondary Grade Teacher or Primary School Headmaster, since both the post of Secondary Grade Teacher and Primary School Headmaster carried the same scale at that time, protecting the interest of junior teachers by protecting the scale of pay of Middle School Headmaster, which they received. That is, after about 9 years, the aforesaid development took place and the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.784.
2.4. The junior teachers, who faced reversion, challenged the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.784, dated 14.05.1989, and obtained order of stay and thereby continued as Middle School Headmaster, pursuant to the said order. Hence, the seniors got affected.
2.5. The matter went upto the Apex Court and the Apex Court was not willing to interfere with the government order in G.O.Ms.No.784 as it gave the benefit to both senior and junior teachers.
3.1. In these circumstances, the issue was resolved by the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal in the order dated 25.04.1996 in O.A.Nos.2250 of 1991 directing to count the service rendered as Secondary Grade Teacher/Primary School Headmaster to give Selection Grade / Special Grade to the Middle School Headmaster, who joined as a Secondary Grade Teacher before 01.10.1970. The said order was followed by the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal in the order dated 17.04.2002 in O.A.No.3521 of 1997 etc. batch.
3.2. There was revision in the scale of Middle School Headmaster, pursuant to V Pay Commission recommendation, which was implemented with effect from 01.06.1988.
3.3 The petitioners involved in those Original Applications before Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal were promoted as Middle School Headmasters before 01.06.1988 and hence, they sought the revision of scale of pay applicable to the post of Middle School Headmaster as on 01.06.1988 by granting them the revision for Selection Grade / Special Grade in the post of Middle School Headmaster by counting the service rendered as Secondary Grade Teachers and Primary School Headmasters.
4. Later, some of the petitioners in the batch filed W.P.No.29626 of 2005 and 29624 of 2005 seeking for implementation of the order of the Tribunal, which attained finality and this Court by the order dated 15.09.2005 directed the respondents therein to implement the order. The said order was also confirmed by a Division Bench in W.A.No.223 on 21.04.2008.
5. Thereafter, the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.210, School Education (G1) Department, dated 14.08.2009, for counting the service rendered as Secondary Grade Teacher and Primary School Headmaster before 01.06.1988 for the purpose of grant of Selection Grade / Special Grade pay to Middle School Headmaster, in respect of the petitioners in those Original Applications, who became Middle School Headmaster before 01.06.1988.
6. In this case, the petitioners, who joined before 01.10.1970 as Secondary Grade Teacher have sought to quash the G.O.Ms.No.210, dated 14.08.2009, on the ground that G.O.Ms.No.210 restricts the benefit only to 65 persons.
7. In my view, no one can find fault with the Government in issuing G.O.Ms.No.210, dated 14.08.2009, to implement the order of the Court. The petitioners could very well seek to extend the benefits of G.O.Ms.No.210 to them and they could ask for the benefit of G.O.Ms.No.210, dated 14.08.2009, to be extended to all other similarly situated persons. I am also of the view that the Government could have very well passed orders extending the benefit of G.O.Ms.No.210, School Education (G1) Department, dated 14.08.2009, to all the similarly situated persons.
8. Thus, if one joined as Secondary Grade Teacher before 01.10.1970, such person is entitled to Selection Grade / Special Grade Pay, on his promotion to the post of Middle School Headmaster, by counting the service rendered in the post of Secondary Grade Teacher / Primary School Headmaster. That is, it is made clear that such person shall be granted Selection Grade / Special Grade Pay in the post of Middle School Headmaster on his promotion to the post of Middle School Headmaster.
9. In this case, the service particulars of the petitioners, that are required for the purpose of this case, are hereunder :
Sl .
No Name of the Petitioner Date of Joining as Primary School Head -master Date of Promotion as Middle School headmaste r Date of Retiremen t P.Velu 20.08.196 11.03.198 30.11.199 A.Meganathan 29.06.196 01.10.198 31.07.199
10. The Teachers are entitled to Selection Grade / Special Grade pay in the post of Middle School Headmaster, from the date of promotion to the post of Middle School Headmaster, by counting the service of Secondary Grade Teachers / Primary School Headmasters, if they joined before 01.10.1970. The petitioners became Middle School Headmaster during 1987 and 1984 respectively and they are entitled to Selection Grade / Special Grade from the date of their promotion as Middle School Headmasters, by counting the service as Secondary Grade Teachers/Primary School Headmasters and accordingly they are also entitled to revision of pay in the Selection Grade / Special Grade in the post of Middle School Headmasters from 01.06.1988 based on G.O.Ms.No.210, dated 14.08.2009, as there was pay revision with effect from 01.06.1988.
11. In my view, the petitioners are entitled to seek Selection Grade / Special Grade in the post of Middle School Headmaster by counting the service of Secondary Grade Teachers / Primary School Headmasters from the date on which they were promoted as Middle School Headmasters.
12. In view of the aforesaid narration of facts, the petitioners are entitled to Selection Grade / Special Grade pay in the post of Middle School Headmaster with effect from the date of promotion as Middle School Headmaster.
13. For the aforesaid reasons, the petitioners shall be granted Selection Grade / Special Grade pay in the post of Middle School Headmaster, by counting the service rendered as Secondary Grade Teachers/Middle School Headmasters, from the date of their promotion to the post of Middle School Headmaster, if the petitioners were not given the same already, with all monetary benefits and the pensionary benefits with arrears
within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, in the light of the aforesaid direction. The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs.
gg s/d- Assistant Registrar(CS-IV) True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar To
1. The Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Director of Elementary Education, College Road, Chenai-600 006.
3. The District Elementary Educational Officer, Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District.
+ 1 cc to Govt.Pleader SR 39865 ug(co) prk22/1 W.P.No.27338 of 2010