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Gujarat High Court

Kantibhai Nathurambhai Raval vs Director Of Animal Husbandary & 3 on 3 August, 2016

Author: J.B.Pardiwala

Bench: J.B.Pardiwala

                    C/SCA/8924/1999                                                  ORDER




                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

                       SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 8924 of 1999

               [On note for speaking to minutes of order dated 14/07/2016 in
                                         C/SCA/8924/1999 ]

         ==========================================================
                     KANTIBHAI NATHURAMBHAI RAVAL....Petitioner(s)
                                      Versus
                 DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL HUSBANDARY & 3....Respondent(s)
         ==========================================================
         Appearance:
         MR HB SINGH, ADVOCATE for the Petitioner(s) No. 1
         GOVERNMENT PLEADER for the Respondent(s) No. 1 - 4
         ==========================================================

          CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA

                                          Date : 03/08/2016


                                            ORAL ORDER

By this Note for Speaking to Minutes, it has been pointed out that  there is an error in para 3.4 of the judgment dated 14th  July 2016 as  regards the date of the Government Resolution dated 6th  August 1994.  The   correct  date  is  16th  August  1994.   In   para  6,  there  is  an   error  as  regards the date of the impugned order. In para 6, the date mentioned is  15th December 1992. The correct date is 15th December 1994. 

The   Registry   shall   effect   the   necessary   correction   in   the   main  judgment and issue a fresh writ of the order. 

With the above, the Note is disposed of.

(J.B.PARDIWALA, J.) Page 1 of 2 HC-NIC Page 1 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016 1 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 ORDER chandresh Page 2 of 2 HC-NIC Page 2 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016 2 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 8924 of 1999 With SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3312 of 2010 FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:

HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA ========================================================== 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? NO 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ?
                                                                                            NO
         3     Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of
               the judgment ?                                                               NO

         4     Whether this case involves a substantial question of
law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of NO India or any order made thereunder ?

========================================================== KANTIBHAI NATHURAMBHAI RAVAL....Petitioner(s) Versus DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL HUSBANDARY & 3....Respondent(s) ========================================================== Appearance:

MR HB SINGH, ADVOCATE for the Petitioner(s) No. 1 MR KRUTIK PARIKH, AGP for the Respondent(s) No. 1 - 4 ========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA Date : 14/07/2016 ORAL COMMON JUDGMENT Page 1 of 12 HC-NIC Page 3 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016

3 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 JUDGMENT 1 Since the issues raised in both the captioned writ applications are  interlinked, those were heard analogously and are being disposed of by  this common judgment and order.

2 The petitioner, a retired government servant, has prayed for the  following reliefs:

3 The facts of this case may be summarized as under:

3.1 The petitioner was appointed on the post of 'Live Stock Inspector'  on 10th June 1964. He last served as a 'Live Stock Inspector' in the office  of the respondent No.2 at Ahmedabad. 
3.2 He   voluntarily   retired   on   31st  March   1993   in   the   pay   scale   of  Rs.2000 - 3500/­. 
3.3 According   to   the   policy   of   the   State   Government,   the   selection  grade of Rs.475 - 650/­ was given to the petitioner in the year 1995  against the original pay scale of Rs.330 - 560/­. 
3.4 The   pay   scale   was   revised   from   Rs.330   -   560/­     to   Rs.1200   - 

2040/­   with   effect   from   1st  January   1986.   The   State   Government  sanctioned   the   scheme   of   higher   grade   pay   scale   with   effect   from   1st  January 1987. The petitioner completed twenty seven years of service in  the same cadre and the respondent No.2, by order dated 23rd  October  1992, fixed his pay with the benefit of five notional increments. The pay  was   accordingly   fixed   at   Rs.2180/­.   According   to   the   Government  Resolution   dated   dated   6th  August   1994,   the   pay   scale   of   a   retired  employee   before   1st  August   1994   was   not   required   to   be   re­fixed.  However, in the case of petitioner, the same was re­fixed at Rs.2120/­ by  order dated 15th December 1994. 




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                    C/SCA/8924/1999                                                        JUDGMENT




         3.5    The  petitioner,  being  dissatisfied   with  such order, has  come up 

with these writ applications. The connected writ application had to be  filed because the representations were rejected. 

4 Today when the matters are taken up for final hearing, Mr. Parikh,  the   learned   Assistant   Government   Pleader   appearing   for   the   State   of  Gujarat pointed out that the issue is squarely covered by the decision of  this Court in the case of Kandoi Chimanlal Brijlal and others v. State of  Gujarat and others [Special Civil Application No.10142 of 2009 and  allied matters decided on 30th January 2013]. A learned Single Judge  of this Court allowed the writ applications in the following terms:

"1. Heard Mr. K.B.Pujara with Mr.H.B.Singh and Mr. Biren A.Vaishnav,   learned advocates for the petitioners, Mr. Rasesh Rindani learned Assistant   Government   Pleader   for   the   respondent   Finance   Department,   Education   Department, Director of Primary Education and District Education Officer,   Mr.H.S.Munshaw,   Ms.   R.V.Acharya   and   Mr.Premal   Joshi,   learned   advocates  for  respective  District  Primary  Education  officers  of Mehsana,   Bhavnagar, and Amreli Districts and Administrative Officers of respective   Municipal   School   Boards   of   said   districts.   At   the   request   of   learned   advocate for petitioners in Special Civil Application No. 8576 of 2008, the   respondent no. 7 in the said petition is deleted. Since, in all these petitions,   the grievance  is identical and the issue for adjudication is the same, all   these   petitions   are   heard,   considered   and   decided   by   this   common   judgment and order. All learned advocates requested that since all relevant   material   is   on   the  record   of   SCA  No.   10142  of   2009,   that   petition   be   treated as lead matter and reference to respective annexures is as per the   paper­book of said petition. 
2. Learned advocates for the petitioners have stated that, all the petitioners   are senior citizen, they retired as teachers prior to 1.8.1994, the grievance   voiced   in   these   petitions   is  to   the  effect   that,   the  higher   grade   scale   to   which the petitioners were entitled as per the policy of the Government, is   not given to the petitioners and consequently their retirement dues are also   paid   in   the   lower   pay­scale   and   the   monthly   pension   which   they   have   received in last two decades and which they receive every month, is also   less   than   their   entitlement.   It   is   further,   vehemently   stated   that   the   petitioners   are   more   aggrieved   by   the   fact   that   the   entitlement   of   the   petitioners is not to be adjudicated afresh, since this Court has gone into   Page 3 of 12 HC-NIC Page 5 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016

5 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 JUDGMENT that   aspect   more   than   once   and   the   petitioners   and   similarly   situated   teachers are held to be entitled to what is claimed in these petitions, the   authorities of the Government had even agreed to make the payment to   the petitioners, the time limit given by this Court to make that payment   has also lapsed before years, some of the petitioners who had approached   this Court earlier and who had succeeded also, died without getting the   fruits   of   their   victory   and   all   aged   persons   are   again   dragged   into   avoidable   litigation   by   the   respondent   authorities,   more   particularly,   because of the absolutely illegal, arbitrary and contemptuous stand of the   officers   of   Directorate   of   Primary   Education,   Gujarat   State,   and   the   petitioners who are senior citizen, are not only not treated with dignity,   but are humiliated. 

3.1 Learned advocates for the petitioners submitted that all the petitioners   have retired prior to 1.8.1994 and they were working as primary teachers.   The  petitioners  were  entitled  to the  benefit  of three  higher  grade  scales   pursuant to the Government Resolution dated 5.7.1991. The said policy of   the higher grade scale was effective from 1.6.1987 but prior thereto there   was policy of the Government to grant selection grade/ senior scale to the   teachers, on completion of certain number of years of service and all the   petitioners were granted the said scale as well, at the relevant time. It is  indicated by learned advocates for the petitioners, by referring to various   orders   of   this   Court   as   well   as   Government   instructions,   which   are   on   record, reference to which is made in the subsequent part of this judgment,   that what is claimed in these petitions is already ordered to be paid, with   interest by this Court and that entitlement is not required to be gone into   by this Court again. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the   amount of selection grade which was recovered from primary teachers is   already refunded to them with interest, pursuant to the order of this Court   and   as   per   the   instructions   of   the   Government   dated   25.01.2008.   Therefore, what remains to be done is grant of higher grade scale which is   not   done   by   the   authorities   and   which   is   the   subject   matter   of   the   grievance voiced in these petitions.

3.2 Learned counsel for the petitioners also submitted that so far the claim   of the petitioners with regard to interest on the arrears in present petitions   is concerned, even that point is concluded by this Court. To elaborate this,   it is indicated that this Court has ordered payment of arrears flowing from   grant  of higher  grade  scale  with  interest  @ 12%  p.a.  vide  order  dated   19.12.2001  passed in Special Civil Application No. 8871/1999  & allied   matters, and vide order dated 4.8.2006 passed in Special Civil Application   No.   8828/1995   and   allied   matters,   it   was   directed   that   withheld   pensionary benefits be paid with interest @ 10%. Therefore, following the   latter   order   dated   4.8.2006   passed   in   Special   Civil   Application   No.   8828/1995  and  allied   matters,  respondents  are  at  least  required  to   be   directed to pay arrears with interest @ 10% per annum.





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             C/SCA/8924/1999                                                      JUDGMENT



3.3   It   is   also   indicated   that,   petitioners   of  Special   Civil   Applications   No.10878   of   2008,   11380   of   2008   and   11160   of   2008  were   actually   promoted   as   Education   Inspector   in   the   pay   scale   of   Rs.400­600   (corresponding pre­revised scale of Rs.1400­2600) and to that extent, they   can be said to have availed one actual promotion and therefore, they will   be entitled to only two more higher grade scales which will take them to   the maximum pay scale of Rs.2000­3500,  and to that extent, their case   stands   on   different   footing,   however,   in   principle,   the   grievance   is   the   same. Therefore, it is indicated that, qua them, the directions that may be   issued by this Court in this judgment may be implemented accordingly. It   is also indicated that petitioners of Special Civil Application No.15829 of   2008 were petitioners in Special Civil Application No.9975 of 2007. 

4. Learned advocates for the respondent District Authorities have in effect   contended that it is the Director of Primary Education, Gujarat State, on   whose advise and directions, the field officers are not releasing the benefits   to the petitioners.

5. So far the authorities of the Government are concerned, none, neither   Finance  Department  nor Education  Department  nor  Director of Primary   Education has filed reply to any of these petitions. They have not missed   filing of replies to these petitions, because inspite of various orders passed   by this Court giving directions to them to file reply, they have chosen to   face contempt proceedings instead of filing reply. Reference in this regard   can be made to the orders dated 17.9.2008, 11.10.2012 and 8.11.2012   on Special Civil Application No. 8576 of 2008. The above reference is only   illustrative, since on Special Civil Application No. 10878 of 2008 also, on   19.9.2008, this Court had directed the respondents to file reply within six   months, which they did not do. In this month also, this group of petitions   was heard  more  than  once  by this Court  and  inspite  of that,  the State   authorities,   more   particularly,   Director   of   Primary   Education,   Gujarat   State, has chosen, consciously, to contest these petitions, without making   his stand clear on oath and today, learned Assistant Government Pleader   Mr. Rindani has made his submissions on behalf of these authorities, on   the   oral   instructions   which   he   got   during   the   course   of   hearing   of   the   matters. 

6. In above situation, learned Assistant Government Pleader Mr. Rindani   submitted that it is not in dispute that all the petitioners are entitled to   three   higher   grade   scales   pursuant   to   Government   Resolution   dated   5.7.1991. It is submitted that the employees, on completion of 9, 18 and   27 years of service, were entitled to first, second and third higher pay scale   respectively. It is however contended that, he has instructions to contend   that,  since  the  petitioners  had  received  selection  grade,  prior  to coming   into force of the present higher grade scale scheme dated 05.07.1991, the   said selection grade has to be treated as one promotion or at least the first  higher grade scale and therefore, now the petitioners would be entitled to   Page 5 of 12 HC-NIC Page 7 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016 7 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 JUDGMENT only remaining two higher grade scales. It is submitted that, the normal   pay   scale   of   the   cadre   of   teacher   to   which   the   petitioners   originally   belonged at the relevant time was Rs.1200­2040 (effective from 1.1.1986)   and corresponding next higher grade scale was Rs. 1400­2600, next higher   to it was Rs. 1640­2900, next to it was Rs. 2000­3500 and next to it was   Rs.  2200­4000.  Therefore,  it is contended  that  the  maximum  pay scale   which could have been conferred to a teacher could be of Rs. 2000­3500   and could not be Rs. 2200­4000 which is claimed by the petitioners.

7. The above contention of learned AGP needs to be appreciated in the   back ground of various orders of this Court, reference to which is made   hereafter and the fact that as on 1.1.1986,  though the pay­scale of the   cadre   of   Primary   Teacher,   to   which   the   petitioners   belonged,   was   Rs.   1200­2040, as a matter of fact, all were drawing the pay in the pay scale   of Rs. 1400­2600 since that was the corresponding revised pay scale of the   selection grade which the petitioners had got prior to 31.12.1985. Thus, in  effect, it is to be seen as to whether, the grant of selection grade should be   treated as availing the first higher grade scale or, over and above it, the   petitioners are entitled to three higher grade scales. If the grant of selection   grade   was   to   be   treated   as   availing   the   first   higher   grade   scale,   the   petitioners were entitled to only remaining two next higher grade scales   which would  take  them  to the maximum  of the pay scale  of Rs. 2000­ 3500.  If on the other  hand,  the grant of selection  grade  was not to be   treated   as   conferring   the   first   of   the   three   higher   grade   scales,   the   petitioners   would   be   entitled   to   three   more   higher   grade   scales   which   would take them to the pay scale of Rs. 2200­4000. Thus, the only point   to   be   answered   is,   as   to   whether   the   grant   of   selection   grade   to   the   primary teachers should be treated as availing first higher grade scale.

8. At the out set, it needs to be recorded that, above point is already gone   into and concluded by this Court. There are more than one orders of this   Court   in   this   regard,   which   are   on   record,   however,   for   the   sake   of   convenience and brevity, the details of only relevant judgments and orders   are recorded in this judgement, which are as under :

8.1 This Court in Special Civil Application No. 8871/1999  and cognate   matters,   after   taking   into   consideration   various   orders   passed   by   this   Court,  recorded  judgment  dated   19.12.2001   and  gave  directions  to  the   respondents to give benefit of three higher grade scales to the petitioners   therein   and   consequential   benefit   with   12%   interest.   The   present   petitioners   are   similarly   situated   to   the   petitioners   of   Special   Civil   Application No. 8871/1999 and cognate matters.
8.2 The above judgment dated 19.12.2001 was sought to be reviewed by   the   authorities   of   the   Government,   and   for   that   purpose,   number   of   applications being Misc. Civil Application No. 2147 of 2003 and cognate   applications were filed, inter alia, taking contention to the effect that, in   Page 6 of 12 HC-NIC Page 8 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016 8 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 JUDGMENT view   of   the   clarification   issued   by   the   Government   on   16.10.1993,   the   selection grade granted to a teacher, should be treated as if the first higher   grade scale is already availed by him, and therefore, only remaining two   higher grade scales will be granted to the teachers.  While  rejecting  that   contention and consequently the said review applications, this Court, on   24.11.2003   held   that   Government   did   not   have  any  authority   to   issue   such clarificatory instruction as contained in resolution dated 16.10.1993.
8.3 The  above judgment  of learned  Single  Judge dated 19.12.2001  and   order dated 24.11.2003 i.e. the original judgment in the petitions, as well   as the order rejecting the review applications of the Government, both were   challenged by the authorities of the Government, by way of Letters Patent   Appeal   No.   1073   of   2004   and   cognate   matters,   wherein,   the   Division   Bench   of   this   Court   vide   judgment   dated   14.10.2004   held   that,   Government   did   have   powers   to   issue   clarification   as   was   done   on   16.10.1993,   however,   true   interpretation   of   the   Government   circulars   pertaining   to  selection   grade  prevailing  at  the   relevant   time,   read  with   Government  Resolution  dated  5.7.1991  adopting  the  higher  grade  scale   scheme, read with the clarification dated 16.10.1993,  would still entitle   the primary teachers to avail three higher grade scales, over and above the   selection grade which they would have availed at the relevant time.
8.4 The said decision of the Division Bench of this Court was challenged by   the  authorities  of the  Government  before  Hon'ble  the  Supreme  Court  of   India by filing SLPs, being Special Leave to Appeal (Civil) No. 18489/2005   and cognate matters  and the same  came  to be dismissed  on 16.9.2005.   Reference to this fact is also made by the Government in its letter dated   25.1.2008 which is referred hereinafter.
8.5 Thus, whether a teacher who had availed selection grade as per policy   of the Government in Education Department, was still entitled to get three   higher grade scales flowing from the Government Resolution issued by the   Finance Department on 5.7.1991, is an issue which has attained finality,   as recorded above. 
9. In above factual back ground, the only contention raised by the State   authorities through learned AGP Mr. Rindani without filing any affidavit­ in­reply,   that   grant   of   selection   grade   should   be   treated   to   have   been   conferred one of the three higher grade scales, can not be accepted. In fact,   this contention of learned AGP is rejected by this Court time and again,   even after the dismissal of SLP referred above. Reference in this regard may   be made to the following further litigation. 

9.1   Taking   note   of   above  judgments,   this   Court  while   adjudicating   the   grievance voiced by Gujarat State Pensioners' Federation, in Special Civil   Application   No.   8828/1995   and   cognate   matter,   recorded   a   detailed   judgment   and   gave  directions  on   4.8.2006.  Relevant  paragraphs  of  the   Page 7 of 12 HC-NIC Page 9 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016 9 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 JUDGMENT said judgment read as under:

7. Having  heard the learned advocates  appearing  for the parties,   the issues arising in these petitions need not detain this Court long.  

A   Division   Bench   of   this   Court   has   already   come   to   a   definite   conclusion   in   this   regard.   It   is   made   clear   that   though   the   Government had the power to issue amending/clarificatory circular   dated 16.10.93, with respect to those teachers who had already got   selection grade, prior to the amending circular dated 26.12.85, the   employees are entitled to retain the selection grade benefit as well   as seek higher pay­scale pursuant to the resolution dated 5.7.91. To   that extent, the petitioners' claim must succeed. However, if there   are   any   teachers   who   had   got   selection   grade   after   GR   dated   26.12.85,   such   teacher   cannot   retain   both   the   benefits   i.e.   of   selection   grade   as   well   of   higher   pay   scale.   This   has  been   made   amply clear by the Division Bench.

8.   For   want   of   individual   details   of   each   employee,   though   this   Court does not give specific individual directions, in the interest of   justice,  the  respondents  are  directed  to consider  the  case  of each   individual   concerned   employee   herein   and   apply   the   ratio   laid   down by the Division  Bench of this Court as noted herein­above.   The   respondents   shall   examine   each   individual   case   as   provided   hereinabove   and   the   conclusion   reached   therein   shall   be   communicated to the concerned teachers or their heirs. This exercise   shall  be done  expeditiously  and  in any case not later  than  three   months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

9. If any of the teachers are held entitled to release of the amounts   withheld   from   the   pensionary   benefits,   the   same   shall   be   paid   within the said period with simple interest at the rate of 10 per cent   from   the   date   such   amount   fell   due   and   payable   till   its   actual   payment. Ultimate conclusion of the Government, if aggrieves any   individual teacher, it will be open for him to seek redressel of the   grievance in accordance with law.

10. With the above directions, the petitions are disposed of. Rule is   made absolute to the above extent with no order as to costs.

9.2 In spite of above directions, primary teachers were made to approach   this   Court   time   and   again.   Few   of   such   litigations   were   Special   Civil   Application   No.   950/2007   and   cognate   matters   decided   on   11.1.2007,   and   Special   Civil   Application   No.   23579   of   2007   and   cognate   matters   decided   on   13.9.2007.   In   those   matters,   this   Court   by   referring   to   the   above   referred   judgment   dated   4.8.2006,   again   gave   directions   to   the   authorities. 

9.3   Even   thereafter,   the   authorities   did   not   grant   benefits   to   those   petitioners,   leave   aside   similarly   situated   teachers   whose   cases   were   directed to be examined by this Court in judgment dated 4.8.2006. Under   Page 8 of 12 HC-NIC Page 10 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016 10 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 JUDGMENT these circumstances, petitioners of Special Civil Application No. 950/2007   and cognate matters moved this Court under the Contempt of Courts Act   by   filing   Miscellaneous   Civil   Application   No.1955/2007   and   cognate   applications.   Authorities   of   the   Government,   including   the   Director   of   Primary Education,  appeared  before  this Court,  where,  the stand  of the   authorities of the Government and consequential directions issued by this   Court, as reflected in the order dated 17.9.2007, reads as under:

Stand of the  Authorities of the  Government: Mr  Sunit  Shah,   learned   Government   Pleader   states,   under   instructions   of   Mr.   R.C.Raval Director of Primary Education and Mr. Sutaria Officer   on   Special   Duty,   Education   Department,   that   the   respondent­ authorities   have   taken   the   decision   in   principle   to   accept   the   petitioners'   representation,   but   in   view   of   the   fact   that   implementation of such decision will be required to be done in case   of   as   many   as   9000   to   10,000   teachers   and   this   will   involve   examination   of   old   service   records   of   such   a   large   number   of   individuals and the computation of the amounts will also require   interpretation  of certain  rules,  the  entire  process  will take  about   five  months'  time  for  the  purposes  of actual  implementation  and   payment. 
Directions issued by this Court :  It is, therefore, clear that the   respondents  will make  the payments  pursuant  to the decision  on   the   petitioners'   representation   in   all   such   cases   by   31st  January   2008   as   per   the   statement   made   by   Mr   Sunit   Shah,   learned   Government Pleader.
We accordingly dispose of these applications with a direction to the   respondents   to   carry   out   the   statements   made   above   within   the   time­limit indicated hereinabove.
Subject to the above direction, notice is discharged.
10. Thereafter, authorities of the Government  in Education Department,   issued   written   instructions   to   the   Director   of   Primary   Education   on   25.1.2008 and 29.1.2008 to do needful. These written instructions were,   on the basis of and after referring to all the above referred judgments and   orders of this Court, including the judgment dated 4.8.2006 as well as the   contempt proceedings dropped by this Court on 17.9.2007 in view of the   statement made by competent and responsible officer, through responsible   Law Officer.

11.   Inspite   of   above   facts,   even   today,   those   retired   primary   teachers,   including those who were petitioners before this Court, have stood there   only. Some of them have died also. To give one example, it is noted that   one   Mr.   Amrutlal   Dave   was   one   of   the   petitioners   in   Special   Civil   Application No. 9959 of 2007, in whose favour the order dated 13.4.2007   Page 9 of 12 HC-NIC Page 11 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016 11 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 JUDGMENT was recorded by this Court and thereafter, the statement was made before   contempt   Bench   of   this   Court   on   17.9.2007   to   make   payment   before   31.1.2008,  died and his widow Kundanben  is petitioner in Special Civil   Application No. 5581 of 2009, which is being considered in this group of   petitions. Be it noted that the said petitioner was from Bhavnagar district   and   there   was   specific   written   instruction   of   the   Government   dated   29.1.2008, which is referred above and even then it is the widow who is   petitioner  before  this   Court.  Even  her  husband   ought   not  to  have  been   here. 

12. Reverting back to the grievance of the petitioners, viz­a­viz the contest   put forward by the Directorate of Primary Education, I find that this court   at this stage, has nothing to adjudicate as to whether the petitioners are   right in their claim or not. More than once, the stand of the authorities   which is taken now, is rejected by this Court. It has attained finality right   up to the Apex Court. Under these circumstances, to say that the stand of   the authorities of the Government is rejected would mean that, it was at   least open to them to do so at this stage. In my view, respondents are not   justified even to that extent. It is to be noted that the stand which is taken   now could not have been written on oath by any officer by filing reply,   since that would be in straight conflict with the judicial pronouncement of   this Court. Therefore, inspite of the direction of this Court, the authorities   have chosen not to file reply. But at the same time, have asked learned   AGP to reiterate the said stand. This is required to be viewed seriously and   keeping this aspect in mind, in the final directions which are issued by this   Court in this judgment, cost is also being imposed against the authorities.   While   awarding   cost,   this   Court   has   also   kept   in   mind   the   principles   annunciated by Hon'ble the Supreme Court of India in this regard in the   judgment in the case of Salem Advocate Bar Association versus Union  of India reported in (2005) 6 SCC 344, more particularly, para 37 and   39 thereof.

13.   Before   parting   it   also   needs   to   be   observed   that,   in   the   judgment   recorded  by  this   Court   dated   4.8.2006   in   Special   Civil   Application   No.   8828/1995 and Special Civil Application No. 8829 of 1995, which were   filed by the Pensioners' Association, it was directed that the case of each   individual   employee   shall   be   looked   into   by   the   authorities   and   appropriate decision shall be taken and communicated  to the concerned   teachers   or   their   heirs.   The   same   is   not   done.   Even   in   the   contempt   proceedings referred above, time was prayed for by the State authorities   mainly on the ground that there are about 9000 to 10000 such cases and   therefore some time is required, which was stipulated to be 31.1.2008 and   inspite of that, not only nothing, in consonance with the above orders, is   done   by   the   authorities,   on   the   contrary,   fresh   round   of   avoidable   litigation   is   thrust   upon   senior   citizens   and   the   same   is   sought   to   be   contested   without   filing   affidavit­in­reply,   inspite   of   directions   of   this   Court. Therefore, it is directed that, no similarly situated employees should   Page 10 of 12 HC-NIC Page 12 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016 12 of 14 C/SCA/8924/1999 JUDGMENT be   made   to   approach   this   Court   and   Principal   Secretary,   Education   Department shall do needful in that regard.

14.   Learned   advocates   for   the   District   Primary   Education   Officers   have   taken   the   stand   to   contest   these   petitions.   Learned   advocates   for   the   petitioners have raised serious grievance against such a stand of the field   officers. There is some substance in the grievance of the petitioners in this   regard, however, when this Court has found that this is the Directorate of   Primary Education who is the Head of Department of these field officers,   has taken such an adamant, illegal and even contemptuous stand, to make   any observation against field officers, would be less justified. The stand of   Director of Primary Education on the face of various orders of this Court   which are referred above, is worth initiating contempt proceedings against   him. However,  it is left to the Government  in Education  Department  to   look into the matter with due seriousness and do needful against erring   officers.   For   the   present,   by   awarding   cost   to   the   tune   of   Rs.   5000/­   payable to each petitioner, the matter is left there. 

15. For the reasons recorded above, this court arrives at the judgment and   passes the order, as under :

i) Inspite of more than one judgments of this Court against the respondent   authorities, the denial of benefit of higher grade scale to the petitioners as   claimed   by   them   and   similarly   situated   persons,   is   held   to   be   illegal,   arbitrary and lacking bonafide on the part of respondent authorities, more   particularly, Director of Primary Education, Gujarat State. 
ii) The  petitioners  shall be paid all the three  higher  grade scales  as per   Government  Resolution  dated   5.7.1991,  over  and   above  selection   grade   availed by them which was prior to 26.12.1985, as held by this Court in  Letters Patent Appeal No. 1073/2004 and cognate matters vide judgment   dated 14.10.2004. 
iii)   The   retirement   dues   of   the   petitioners   shall   also   be   recalculated   accordingly. 
iv)   Arrears   of   difference   of   pay   as   well   as   retirement   dues   shall   be   calculated and paid within a period of four months from today.
v)   The   petitioners   shall   also   be   entitled   to   interest   from   1.1.1995   till   31.1.2013 on the above amount, at the rate of 10% per annum, which   shall also be paid along with arrears, as directed above.

vi) While implementing these directions, it shall also be kept in view that   the petitioners of Special Civil Applications No.10878 of 2008, 11380 of   2008   and   11160   of   2008,   had   availed   one   promotion   on   the   post   of   Education Inspector and therefore, they will be entitled to only remaining   two higher grade scales and qua them, the directions shall be implemented   accordingly.





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                      C/SCA/8924/1999                                                   JUDGMENT



vii) For the reasons recorded in paras­8.5, 9.2, 9.3 and 10 to 14, more   particularly para 12 of this judgment, each petitioners shall be paid cost of   Rs.  5000/­  by the  Director  of Primary  Education,  Gujarat  State,  which   shall be paid within a period of three months from today. It would be open   to the State authorities to recover this amount from erring officer(s), in   accordance with law.

viii.The   Principal   Secretary,   Education   Department   is   further   directed   to   carry out the directions contained in para 13 of this judgment within a   period of three months from today.

Petitions stand allowed. Rule made absolute with costs as directed above."

5 Both these writ applications are also disposed of in terms of the  judgment and order passed by this Court referred to above

6 The impugned order dated 15th December 1992 is hereby ordered  to be quashed. Appropriate orders shall be passed in accordance with the  judgment which   has  been  referred  to above   and  the  requisite  arrears  shall  be  calculated  and paid  to  the  petitioner  within  a  period  of  two  months from the date of receipt of this order. Direct service is permitted.

(J.B.PARDIWALA, J.) chandresh Page 12 of 12 HC-NIC Page 14 of 14 Created On Sat Aug 06 03:11:06 IST 2016 14 of 14