O R D E R
Leave Granted.
We have heard learned counsel on both sides.
The respondents had filed writ petition claiming higher scale of pay on their acquiring B.T./E.Ed. qualification. Admittedly, they were appointed as Junior Basic Teachers. They improved their qualifications and claimed parity on the basis of the letter issued by the then Punjab Government on July 23,1957 in Circular No.5056-FR-11/57. The High Court issued the directions. Thus, this appeal by special leave.
The controversy is covered by the Judgment of this Court in Wazir Singh vs. State of Haryana [1995 Supp.(3) SCC 697] wherein this Court held while dealing with the revision of the pay-scale of Government employees, i.e., teaching personnel of the Education Department, the Government of Haryana had in their policy instructions dated March 9, 1990 expressed in unequivocal terms that the intention to retract from the earlier principle that teachers acquiring the B.T. or B.Ed. degree would be entitled to the higher grade with effect from the respective dates of their acquiring that qualification. therefore, as they did not acquire the qualification before 9.3.1990, they are not entitled to the benefit of the higher grade of pay automatically.
It is contended by Shri Pankaj Kalra, learned counsel for the respondents, that this controversy was considered by this Court in Chaman lal vs. State of Haryana [(1987) 3 SCC 213] and the Government cannot by the memo dated March 9, 1990 set at naught the judgment of this Court. We find no force in the contention. It is seen that the Government have specifically explained in their letter that though the composite Punjab State had issued the above circular which was accepted by the Kothari Commission, the Government of Haryana after its letter dated January 5, 1968 had not followed that Punjab Order. However, it was construed that the Government have adopted the above letter. In that light, they had reconsidered the entire issue and stated in paragraph 6 of the letter thus:
"6. In order to remove the
confusion being created by
misconstruing the intention of the
Govt., the whole matter has been
reconsidered by the whole matter
has been reconsidered by the State
Govt. As a result of the
reconsideration to clarify that the
teachers of the Education
Department are not entitled to be
placed in the high scales of pay in
terms of para 2 of the Punjab Govt.
letter No.5056-F-11-57/6600 dated
23rd July, 1957 or any subsequent
letters/notifications issued by the
Haryana Govt. referred to in the
preceding paras, which letters
already become inoperative on their
improving/acquiring higher
qualifications during the course of
their service automatically. the
masters/teachers in the Education
Department will be placed in the
scales of pay appointed against the
sanctioned posts and mere
possessing/acquiring of higher
qualifications will not entitle
them automatically to claim higher
pay scales."
This letter was considered by this Court in Wazir Singh’s case and it was held that those who acquired the qualifications are not automatically entitled to the fitment in the higher pay scales. In the judgment in Wazir Singh’s case itself it was mentioned in para 10 that the counsel appearing for the State had conceded that all those who had acquired B.T. and/or B.Ed. before March 9, 1990 would be entitled to get higher scales of pay in terms of para 2 of the Punjab State’s letter dated July 23, 1957. Therefore, the circular of the Government dated March 9, 1990 would be prospective in candidates who acquired the qualifications on and after the said date and they are not entitled to higher scale of pay.
The appeal is according allowed, but in the circumstances, without costs.