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[Cites 6, Cited by 118]

Supreme Court of India

Jaipal & Others vs State Of Haryana And Others on 2 June, 1988

Equivalent citations: 1988 AIR 1504, 1988 SCR SUPL. (1) 411, AIR 1988 SUPREME COURT 1504, 1988 LAB. I. C. 1673, (1988) 2 SERVLR 710, (1988) 2 SCJ 529, (1988) 57 FACLR 210, (1988) 2 CURLR 83, (1988) 2 JT 528 (SC), (1988) 3 COMLJ 93, (1988) 7 ATC 771, (1988) 2 LAB LN 580, 1988 SCC (L&S) 785, 1988 (3) SCC 354

Author: K.N. Singh

Bench: K.N. Singh, M.H. Kania

           PETITIONER:
JAIPAL & OTHERS

	Vs.

RESPONDENT:
STATE OF HARYANA AND OTHERS

DATE OF JUDGMENT02/06/1988

BENCH:
SINGH, K.N. (J)
BENCH:
SINGH, K.N. (J)
KANIA, M.H.

CITATION:
 1988 AIR 1504		  1988 SCR  Supl. (1) 411
 1988 SCC  (3) 354	  JT 1988 (2)	528
 1988 SCALE  (1)1198
 CITATOR INFO :
 RF	    1989 SC  19	 (27)
 F	    1989 SC1256	 (4)
 C	    1989 SC1308	 (8,10)
 F	    1990 SC 883	 (7)
 RF	    1991 SC1173	 (6)


ACT:
     Constitution of India: Articles 14 and 39(d)-'Equal pay
for Equal  Work'-Constitutional	 obligation  of	 the  State-
Difference it  mode of	selection for  posts  not  material-
Similar	 functions  and	 duties	 under	the  same  employer-
Relevancy of.



HEADNOTE:
     In the  State of  Haryana	two  identical	schemes	 are
simultaneously in  operation with  the object  of  imparting
literacy (functional and awareness) to adult illiterates and
to provide  literacy to	 children keeping  away from school.
The first scheme, known as the Adult and Nonformal Education
Scheme, is  financed by	 the Central  Government  under	 its
Rural  Functional   Literacy   Programme/Project,   but	  is
administered by	 the State  Government. Under this scheme, a
number of Adult Education Centres have been opened to impart
literacy  to   adult  illiterates.   The  petitioners	were
appointed as  Instructors  at  these  centres  on  different
dates. They  are being	paid a	fixed salary  of Rs.200	 per
month. The  petitioners are  given a deliberate break of one
day in their service after the lapse of every six months and
have thus  been treated	 temporary in  service.	 The  second
scheme, known as the State Social Education Scheme, has been
framed by  the State  of Haryana.  Under this  scheme Social
Education Centres have been opened in the State and teachers
known as Squad Teachers appointed at these centres to impart
literacy among	the illiterates.  The State  regularised the
services of  the Squad Teachers working on ad-hoc basis with
effect from  1.1.1980  and  sanctioned	them  pay  scale  of
Rs.420-700, the	 scale applicable to primary school teachers
in the State.
     The Petitioners'  grievance is  that although  they are
performing the	same  nature  of  functions  and  duties  as
performed by  the Squad	 Teachers, they	 are denied the same
scale of  pay. The  petitioners pray  for the  issuance of a
writ, order  or direction  to the  respondents (i)  to treat
them in	 continuous service  irrespective of  the deliberate
breaks in  their service,  (ii) to  grant them	regular	 pay
scales of  the Primary	School Teachers	 plus  consequential
benefits from  the date	 of their  initial appointment,	 and
(iii) to  treat the  Department of  Adult Education and Non-
formal Education as a permanent department and to regularise
the
412
services of the petitioners in that Department.
     The claim	of the	petitioners is based on the doctrine
of 'equal  work equal pay'. The petitioners contend that (i)
the two	 schemes are  similar and  the nature  of duties and
functions performed  by instructors  are  similar  to  those
performed by squad teachers, (ii) the instructors as well as
the Squad  Teachers are both appointed by the District Adult
Education officer  and function under the supervision of the
Directorate of	Education, (iii)  the instructors  are	full
time employees	and take  regular classes of students in the
age group  of 5-15  years for  two and	a half	hours and of
adult illiterates  in the  age-group of	 15-35 years for one
and a  half hours.  In addition,  they have  to motivate the
children and the adults to join the Adult Education Centres.
They are further required to submit regular survey reports.
     The respondents,  on the  other  hand,  urge  that	 the
functions and  duties  of  the	instructors  and  the  squad
teachers are quite different. The main points of distinction
relied upon  are that (i) the instructors are appointed part
time while  squad teachers are in full time employment, (ii)
the squad  teachers are	 transferable while  instructors are
not, (iii)  the squad teachers are required to teach 7 hours
daily while  instructors are  required	to  teach  for	four
hours, (iv)  the social	 education scheme  is permanent	 and
squad teachers	are working  under a  permanent scheme while
the instructors	 are working  under a  temporary scheme, and
(v) the	 qualifications	 and  the  mode	 of  recruitment  of
instructors  are   different;  while   the  instructors	 are
appointed locally,  the squad  teachers are  selected by the
Subordinate Service  Selection Board  after  competing	with
candidates from	 any part  of the  country. It is emphasized
that  if   a  regular	selection  was	held,  many  of	 the
Instructors may not have been appointed.
     Earlier, this  court had  in Bhagwan  Das v.  State  of
Haryana,  [1987]   4  SCC   634	 upheld	 the  claim  of	 the
Supervisors appointed  to supervise  the  centres  at  which
instructors have been working under the Adult and Non-formal
Education Scheme  for the  grant of the same scale of pay as
has been sanctioned to the Head Squad Teachers of the Social
Education Scheme.
     In partly allowing the writ petitions, this Court,
^
     HELD: (1)	There is  no difference	 in  the  nature  of
duties of  the instructors  and squad  teachers and  both of
them carry  out similar	 work under  the same  employer. The
functions and duties of both classes of
413
persons are  primarily directed	 to  advance  the  cause  of
education to  bring social awareness among the people in the
rural areas  and  to  create  interest	in  various  social,
economic and  educational  activities.	Bringing  adults  to
centres for educating them is a difficult task and to impart
education to dropout children is not an easy job. One of the
main duties of the instructors is to motivate the adults and
dropout children  to participate  in the  activities and  to
motivate them  for taking  education. The  instructors teach
four hours  a day and thereafter they have to do survey work
and motivation	work. In  addition to  that, the instructors
are required  to  carry	 out  additional  duties  which	 are
assigned to them by the Department. Further, the instructors
are required  to organise  sports like	kho-kho, kabadi	 and
athletics, and	to participate in the local functions and to
motivate affluent  villagers to give donations for the adult
education scheme. [420C-E; 421D-E]
     (2) Having	 regard to their duties and functions, it is
difficult  to	uphold	the   respondents'  plea   that	 the
instructors are	 part-time employees  as they  work only for
four hours. [421E]
     (3) If  the two class of persons do same work under the
same employer,	with similar  responsibility, under  similar
working conditions,  the doctrine  of 'equal work equal pay'
would apply  and it  would not	be  open  to  the  State  to
discriminate one  class with  the other	 in  paying  salary.
[421F-G]
     (4) The  State is	under a constitutional obligation to
ensure that  equal pay is paid for equal work. Article 39(d)
contained in  Part IV  of the Constitution ordains the State
to direct  its policy  towards securing 'equal pay for equal
work' for  both men and women. Though Article 39 is included
in the	Chapter of Directive Principles of State Policy, but
it is  fundamental in  nature. The purpose of the article is
to fix	certain social	and economic  goals for avoiding any
discrimination amongst	the people  doing  similar  work  in
matters relating to pay. [421G; 422B-C]
     (5) The  doctrine of 'equal work equal pay' would apply
on the	premise of  similar work,  but it does not mean that
there should be complete identity in all respects. [421F]
     (6) A  temporary or casual employee performing the same
duties and  functions is entitled to the same pay as paid to
a permanent employee. [422D]
     (7) The plea that instructors are not transferable does
not affect
414
the doctrine  of equal	pay for	 equal work. The instructors
are appointed  A  locally  because  they  are  in  a  better
position to  motivate the  adults and  dropout children	 for
participating in  the  scheme,	while  an  outsider  may  be
handicapped in motivating the local residents. [423C-D]
     (8) Minimum  qualification for  the Instructors as well
as the	Squad Teachers is Matric, though many among both are
graduates and  some of them are trained teachers. Though the
Instructors belong  to the  locality where  they  have	been
posted, but  they are  appointed only  after selection.	 The
difference  in	 mode  of  selection  will  not	 affect	 the
application of	the doctrine  of `equal	 work equal  pay' if
both the  class of  persons perform  similar  functions	 and
duties under the same employer. [423D-E]
     (9) The  instructors are entitled to the same pay scale
as sanctioned  to squad	 teachers. The	pay of	each of	 the
petitioners shall  be fixed  having regard  to the length of
service with effect from the date of his initial appointment
by ignoring  the break	in service  on account of six months
fresh appointments.  The petitioners  will  be	entitled  to
increments  in	 the  pay   scale  in  accordance  with	 law
notwithstanding the  break in  service that might have taken
place. These  directions shall	be implemented	with  effect
from September 1, 1985. [424A-C]
     10.  The  petitioners'  claim  for	 regularising  their
services in the departments cannot be accepted as admittedly
the project  of Adult and Non-formal Education is temporary.
[424C-D]
     Bhagwan Dass  v. State  of Haryana,  [1987] 4  SCC 634;
Ranjit Singh  v. Union	of India,  [1982] 3  SCR 298; Dhiren
Chamoli v.  State of  U.P., [1986]  1 SCC  637 and  Surinder
Singh v.  Engineer-in-Chief CPWD,  & Ors.,  [1986] 1 SCC 639
referred to.



JUDGMENT:

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION: Writ Petition (Civil) Nos. 455, 597, 635, 636, 777/1986, 1518, 1686/1987, 77, 78 and 395 of 1988.

(Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India). Govinda Mukhoty and Mrs. Rekha Pandey for the Petitioners.

Madhusudan Rao, Mahabir Singh, M. Satya Narayan Rao and C.V.S. Rao for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by 415 SINGH, J. The petitioners in all these ten writ petitions filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India have raised grievance of discrimination against the State of Haryana in not following the doctrine of "equal work equal pay".

The petitioners are working as instructors under the Adult and Non-formal Education Scheme under the Education Department of Haryana. The object of the Non-formal Education and Adult Education Scheme is to impart literacy (functional and awareness) to the adult illiterates in age group of 15-35 years and to provide literacy to the children in the age group of 5-15 years who are drop-outs from the primary and middle school level or who never joined any regular school. A number of Adult Education Centres have been opened in the State of Haryana, which are maintained under the Rural Functional Literacy Programme/Project (RELP) of the Central Government, administered by the State of Haryana although expenditure in respect of the project is borne by the Central Government. The petitioners were appointed instructors to impart literacy to adult illiterates at these Centres on different dates. The students who are taught by the petitioners are permitted to appear at the Vth standard (primary examinations) conducted by the Education Department of the State. On passing the examination the students are issued a certificate of having passed primary examination. On the basis of that certificate students are eligible for admission to 6th class in the regular schools maintained by the State Government. The petitioners were appointed instructors by the District Adult Education officers of each district between 1978 to 1985 on the basis of selection held by a Selection Committee. Initially the petitioners were paid a fixed salary of Rs. 150 per month but since April 1983 it has been increased to Rs.200 per month. Minimum qualifications for being appointed an instructor is matric, many of the instructors are graduates while some of them also hold junior basic training certificates. The petitioners are given a deliberate break of one day after the lapse of every six months and have thus been treated temporary in service notwithstanding the fact that they have been continuously working ever since the date of their appointment. There is another scheme known as Social Education scheme in the State of Haryana for imparting education to illiterates in the villages, the scheme is known as State Adult Education Programme also. Under that scheme a number of social education centres have been opened. The teachers employed under that scheme were known as squad teachers who run the centres. In 1981 the head squad teachers and squad teachers were regularised as head teachers and teachers, and granted the benefit of pay scale applicable to regular 416 head-masters and teachers of primary schools maintained by the State A Government. The petitioners' grievance is that although they are performing the same nature of functions and duties as performed by the squad teachers but they are denied the same scale of pay instead they are being paid a fixed salary of Rs.200 per month. The relief claimed by the petitioners in all these petitions is identical in the following terms

(a) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any appropriate writ, order or direction that the petitioners continue to be in the service of the respondents from the date of their initial appointment irrespective of their being a deliberate break in their services during the vacation period.

(b) Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction to the respondents to put the petitioners on regular pay scales to that of primary school teachers in the Education Department of Haryana plus other consequential benefits from the date of their initial appointment and further direct the respondents to pay the petitioners the difference in arrears of salary accrued to them from the date of their initial appointment.

(c) Issue by appropriate writ, order or direction that the Department of Adult Education and Non-formal Education is a permanent department of the State and the petitioners are regularised teachers in the Department appointed against sanctioned posts of instructors.

There is no dispute that the State of Haryana has framed its own scheme for imparting education to Adult illiterates in the villages, this scheme is known as the State Social Education Scheme. Under this scheme the State of Haryana has opened social education centres in various Districts. These centres have been functioning under the Department of Education where teachers known as squad teachers have been imparting literacy, functional and awareness among the illiterates. The State of Haryana by its order dated 20.1.1981 regularised the services of the squad teachers working on ad-hoc basis with effect from 1.1.1980 and sanctioned them pay scale of Rs.420-700, the scale applicable to primary school teachers in the State of Haryana. The petitioners claim that the job and functions of the instructors are similar to squad teachers for running the social educa-

417

tion centres, therefore they are also entitled to the same pay scale as granted to squad teachers. At this stage it is necessary to note that supervisors are appointed to supervise the various centres at which instructors have been working under the Adult Education and Nonformal Education Scheme. A number of supervisors filed a writ petition in this Court under Article 32 of the Constitution claiming same scale of pay as granted to head squad teachers of the Social Education Scheme. Their claim was upheld by this Court in Bhagwan Dass v. State of Haryana, [1987] 4 SCC 634 and direction was issued sanctioning the same scale of pay to them as has been sanctioned to the head squad teachers of the Social Education Scheme. The petitioners' claim that as the supervisors who supervise their work have been granted pay scale applicable to head squad teachers the petitioners are also entitled to the pay scale applicable to squad teachers of the Social Education Scheme .

The main controversy raised on behalf of the respondents is that the instructors do not perform similar duties as performed by the squad teachers. It was urged that the nature of duties of instructors are quite different than those performed by the squad teachers. The petitioners have stated that the instructors are full time employees they take regular classes of students in the age group of S- 15 years for two and a half hours and they further take classes for adult illiterates in the age group of 15-35 years for one and a half hours. This is not disputed. The petitioners further contended that in addition to four hours teaching work they have to motivate the children and the adults to join the centres for getting free education. They are required to submit survey reports to the department every six months giving details as to how many children in the age group of 5-15 years are not going to the schools and how many adult persons are illiterate in their villages. The petitioners further assert that adult education and nonformal education programme which is implemented by the instructors is similar to social education programme. The instructors as well as squad teachers of social education scheme are appointed by the District Adult Education officer and both these class of persons function under the control and supervision of the Joint Director, Adult Education under the Directorate of Education of the State of Haryana. The duties of instructors as contained in Chapter II of the Informal Education Instructors Guide published by the Haryana Government, Directorate of Education, are specified, a copy of the same has been annexed to the affidavit of Prem Chand one of the petitioners. The duties of the instructors as prescribed therein are as under:

418
"DUTIES OF THE INSTRUCTOR (A) AS ORGANISER OF THE CENTRE
1. To contact the villagers and their children who can be given education at the centre;
2. To survey the villages to know who are the children who can be brought to the centre for teaching;
3. To tell the villages about the aims and objects of education programme; and (4) To form local co-ordinating bodies. (B) AS A TEACHER
1. To complete the syllabus in time and to create interest in the children by his teaching;
2. The instructor must be aware of multiple class and group teaching systems;
3. He should give examples of village life and to link it with education; and
4. To make cultural activities a part of education.
(C) AS ADMISTRATOR OF THE CENTRE
1. To contact such students who are irregular or late comers to the centre and to encourage them/their parents to send their children regularly to the centre;
2. To keep records of the following:
(i) personal details of children and their progress charts;
(ii) Their timely evaluation;
(iii) The details of admission of children from Informal Education Centre (3rd, 4th and 5th class) to formal school;
419
(iv) Copy of the monthly progress and copies of reports sent to the Supervising and Planning offices and copies of other reports."

The aforesaid publication issued by the Government further states that Haryana is the first State which has integrated the two schemes, namely, Informal Education Programme and Adult Education Programme.

In the counter-affidavit of J.K. Tandon, Assistant Director, Adult Education, it is stated that the instructors who are seeking equality with the squad teachers of Social Education Scheme are quite different. The social education squad teachers are mobile in nature and they move from one village to another, after completing their job in a village whereas in the case of instructors they are employed from the same village and are from the nearby villages, the squad teachers are full time employees and teaching work is carried out by them for full day. However, in his affidavit Shri Tandon could not dispute the duties as mentioned in the Informal Education Instructors Guide (extracted above). Another counter-affidavit has been filed by Sabira Khosla, Deputy Director, Adult Education, in that affidavit it is stated that the squad teachers are full time employees they work for 6-7 hours and besides working at night during 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. they do social work also. Another additional affidavit has been filed on behalf of the respondents by S.R. Kaushal, Assistant Director of School Education. In his affidavit he has stated that social education squad teachers perform various duties under the Social Education Programme which is divided into various divisions as under:

1. Education division.
2. Debate and discussion division.
3. Sports division.
4. Cultural activity division.
5. Social service division.

It is stated that the squad teachers undertake various functions to supplement the programme under the aforesaid divisions. He has pointed out the difference in the working of the instructors and the squad teachers. The main point of distinction relied upon by him is 420 that the instructors are appointed part-time while squad teachers and JBT teachers are in full time employment. Social education squad teachers are transferable while instructors are not transferable. A social squad teacher is required to teach 7 hours daily while an instructor is required to teach for four hours. The social education scheme is permanent and squad teachers are working under a permanent scheme while the instructors are working under a temporary scheme.

We have given our anxious consideration to the material placed before us. On a careful analysis of the same we find that the nature of duties and functions performed by instructors are similar to those performed by squad teachers. The functions and duties of both classes of persons are primarily directed to advance the cause of education to bring social awareness among the people in the rural areas and to create interest in various social economic and educational activities. Bringing adults to centre for educating them is a difficult task and to impart education to drop-outs children is not an easy job. One of the main duties of the instructors is to motivate the adults and drop out children to participate in the activities and to motivate them for taking education. The instructors teach four hours a day and thereafter they have to do survey work and motivation work in addition to that the instructors are required to carry out additional duties which are assigned to them by the Department. This is evident from the circular letter dated 4.3.1987 issued by the Joint Director, Adult Education (Annexure B) to the affidavit of Rajinder Singh petitioner. The letter was circulated to all the instructors of adult and informal education, it reads as under:

"Dear To bring adults in centres is a very difficult task. This is possible only when our centres are attractive and adults feel happy to come to the centres and forget all their worries after coming to the Centre. Instructors should behave with the adults in such a way that they think him their friend and guide. The adults should be told that by hearing, reading the writing, they can know about the Government Scheme made for their benefit and progress. Every Instructor is supposed to know about all such schemes so that they can guide their students. The Adults should get the guidance from the instructors as to how they can get loans from various banks and cooperative Societies. In the com-
421
ing year we must equip the instructors with training so that they can fulfil the responsibility given to them.
In a meeting held at Karnal you were told about the facilities being given to widows and old persons. You have to properly propagate the same.
I will be very grateful to you for circulating this letter to all the instructors and supervisors.
Office Dist. Adult Education officer Karnal. Page No. A-d-4/3480-659, Karnal dated 13.3.1981.
One copy of the letter to be circulated to all instructors and supervisors of Adult and Informal Education for necessary action.
	       Dist   Adult    Education   officer    Karnal
	  13.2.1987."
The aforesaid duties which are required to be performed by the instructors are in addition to their four hour teaching duty. Further the instructors are required to organise sports like kho-kho, kabadi and athletics, and to participate in the local functions and to motivate affluent villagers to give donations for the adult education scheme. This is evident from a circular letter issued by the District Adult Education officer, Ambala on 12.11.1986 (Annexure to the affidavit of Rajender Singh). Having regard to these facts and circumstances we are of the view that there is no difference in the nature of duties of the instructors and squad teachers and both of them carry out similar work under the same employer. The doctrine of equal work equal pay would apply on the premise of similar work, but it does not mean that there should be complete identity in all respects. If the two class of persons do same work under the same employer, with similar responsibility. under similar working conditions the doctrine of 'equal work equal pay' would apply and it would not be open to the State to discriminate one class with the other in paying salary. The State is under a Constitutional obligation to ensure that equal pay is paid for equal work.
The respondents' contention that the adult education scheme is temporary, as the posts are sanctioned on year to year basis and as such the instructors are not entitled to claim equality with the squad teachers as the scheme under which they work of a permanent nature is misconceived. This contention was rejected by this Court in the case 422 of Bhagwan Dass (supra) while considering the case of supervisors. A There is no doubt that instructors and squad teachers are employees of the same employer doing work of similar nature in the same department therefore the appointment on a temporary basis or on regular basis does not affect the doctrine of equal pay for equal work. Article 39(d) contained in Part IV of the Constitution ordains the State to direct its policy towards securing equal pay for equal work for both men and women. Though Article 39 is included in the Chapter of Directive Principles of State Policy, but it is fundamental in nature. The purpose of the Article is to fix certain social and economic goals for avoiding any discrimination amongst the people doing similar work in matters relating to pay. The doctrine of equal pay for equal work has been implemented by this Court in Ranjit Singh v. Union of India & Ors., [1982] 3 SCR 298; Dhiren Chamoli and ors. v. State of U.P.,[1986] 1 SCC 637 and Surinder Singh & Anr. v. Engineer-in-Chief, CPWD & Ors., [1986] 1 SCC 639. In view of these authorities it is too late in the day to disregard the doctrine of equal pay for equal work on the ground of the employment being temporary and the other being permanent in nature. A temporary or casual employee performing the same duties and functions is entitled to the same pay as paid to a permanent employee.
The respondents' contention that the mode of recruitment of petitioners is different from the mode of recruitment of squad teachers inasmuch as the petitioners are appointed locally while squad teachers were selected by the subordinate Service Selection Board after competing with candidates from any part of the country. Emphasis was laid during argument that if a regular selection was held many of the petitioners may not have been appointed they got the employment because outsiders did not compete. In our opinion, this submission has no merit. Admittedly the petitioners were appointed on the recommendation of a Selection Committee appointed by the Adult Education Department. It is true that the petitioners belong to the locality where they have been posted, but they were appointed only after selection, true that they have not been appointed after selection made by the Subordinate Service Selection Board but that is hardly relevant for the purposes of application of doctrine of "equal pay for equal work".

The difference in mode of selection will not affect the application of the doctrine of "equal pay for equal work" if both the class of persons perform similar functions and duties under the same employer. Similar plea raised by the State of Haryana in opposing the case of supervisors in the case of Bhagwan Dass (supra) was rejected, where it was observed that if the State deliberately chose 423 to limit the selection of candidates from a cluster of a few villages it will not absolve the State for treating such candidates in a discriminatory manner to the disadvantage of the selectees once they are appointed provided the work done by the candidates so selected is similar in nature. The recruitment was confined to the locality as it was considered advantageous to make recruitment from the cluster of villages for the purposes of implementing the Adult Education Scheme because the instructors appointed from that area would know the people of that area more intimately and would be in a better position to persuade them to take advantage of the Adult Education Scheme in order to make it a success.

The respondents' plea that instructors are not transferable does not affect the doctrine of equal pay for equal work. The instructors are appointed locally to implement the Adult and Non-formal Education Scheme because they are in a better position to motivate the adults and drop-outs children for participating in the scheme. An outsider may be handicapped in motivating the local residents for participating in the scheme. As regards the difference in qualification is concerned it is true that the squad teachers possess JBT certificates and many of them are graduates but minimum qualification for squad teachers is also matric. Similarly minimum qualification for instructors is matric but many of the petitioners are graduates and some of them are trained teachers possessing JBT certificates. Great emphasis was laid on behalf of the respondent State that instructors are part-time employees while squad teachers are full time employees. Similar arguments were raised on behalf of the State in the case of Bhagwan Dass (supra) in resisting the claim of supervisor but the submission was rejected by this Court on the ground that having regard to the duties and functions which the supervisors are required to perform it was difficult to uphold the plea that he was a part-time employee. In the instant cases also we have already noticed the details of the duties and functions assigned to an instructor which normally say that the petitioners are required to teach at the centre for four hours and in addition to that they are required to motivate adults and drop-outs children of the locality and to prepare survey reports, in addition to that they are further required to implement various schemes initiated by the Government, they are further required to organise sports, athletics programme and to persuade local affluent people for making donations. They are required to educate the local residents with regard to the various welfare schemes initiated by the Government for the welfare of the residents of the rural areas. Having regard to their duties and functions it is difficult to uphold the respondent's plea that the instructors are 424 part time employees as they work only for four hours.

In view of the above discussion, we hold that the instructors are entitled to the same pay scale as sanctioned to squad teachers. We, accordingly, direct that the petitioners' salary shall be fixed in the same pay scale as that of squad teachers. The pay of each of the petitioners shall be fixed having regard to the length of service with effect from the date of his initial appointment by ignoring the break in service on account of six months fresh appointments. The petitioners will be entitled to increments in the pay scale in accordance with law notwithstanding the break in service that might have taken place. We further direct that these directions shall be implemented with effect from September 1, 1985 as directed by this Court in the case of Bhagwan Das (supra). The petitioners' claim for regularising their services In the department cannot be accepted as admittedlly the project of Adult and Non-formal Education is temporary which is likely to last till 1990. We accordingly allow the writ petitions partly with costs which we quantify at Rs.5,000.

R.S.S. Petitions allowed.

425