As per case facts, the petitioner, a retired teacher, was initially appointed in 1977, regularized in 1978, upgraded to Graduate Teacher in 1992, and placed in Senior Scale by 1999. ...
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 1 of 18
Non-reportable
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
AT IMPHAL
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021
Mangsatabam Nilabita Devi, aged about 64 years, W/o. Y.
Bhogendra Singh, a resident of Kontha Khabam Mamang Leikai,
P.O. Mantripukhri, P.S. Heingang, Imphal East District, Manipur
– 795002.
…Petitioner
- Versus -
1. The State of Manipur, represented by Principal Secretary/
Commissioner, Education (S), Government of Manipur, New
Secretariat Building, P.O. & P.S. Imphal, Imphal West,
Manipur-795001.
2. The Principal Secretary/Commissioner (Finance),
Government of Manipur, New Secretariat Building, P.O. &
P.S. Imphal, Imphal West, Manipur-795001.
3. The Director of Education (S), Government of Manipur,
Lamphelpat, Imphal West-795001.
4. Principal Accountant General (A&E), Office of the Accountant
General, Imphal West, Manipur-795001.
…Respondents
B E F O R E
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A. GUNESHWAR SHARMA
For the petitioner : Mr. L. Raju, Adv.
For the respondents : Mrs. Ch. Sundari, GA;
Mr. S Suresh, Adv.
Date of hearing : 27.05.2025
Date of judgment & order : 19.12.2025
J U D G M E N T A N D O R D E R
[1] Heard Mr. L. Raju, learned counsel for the petitioner; Mrs. Ch.
Sundari, learned Government Advocate for the State respondents; and Mr.
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 2 of 18
S. Suresh, learned counsel for the Principal Accountant General, Manipur.
[2] The petitioner was initially appointed as substitute teacher in the
pay scale of Rs. 240-390/- plus other allowances as admissible under rules
vide order No. 2/30/70-ED(R)(1)(a) dated 30-11-1977 and posted at
Tendongyan U.J.B. School, vice Y. Lukhoi Singh for Sr. Basic Training. Her
service was regularized w.e.f. the date of joining duty vide order No. 2/5/77–
ED(P)(x) dated 08-11-1978 issued by the Director of Education (S),
Government of Manipur.
[3] In pursuance of Government approval to the promotion/
upgradation of undergraduate teachers in government Schools issued under
their letter No. 4/2/87–SE(S) dated 09-01-1990, and after rendering 8 years
of regular service as Assistant Undergraduate Teacher, her post was
upgraded to Graduate Teacher vide order No. 46/2/87–ED(Jr) dated 27-03-
1992 in the pay scale of Rs. 1400–2300/- p.m. with D.A. and other
allowances as admissible under rules with retrospective effect from 31-12-
1987 and abolish her corresponding undergraduate teacher post in the
school.
[4] On the recommendation of the Zonal Education Officer, I.D. Zone-
I’s Screening Committee in its meeting held on 20-12-1999, and as
admissible vide Government’s Notification No. 2/6/5/91-SE(S) dated 09-08-
1991 and 29-08-1994, the petitioner was placed in Senior Scale of Graduate
Teacher in the pay scale of Rs. 5500–9000/- w.e.f. 03-12-1999 vide order
No. 2/4-1/97–ED(ZEO/Z-I)(IV) dated 31-12-1999.
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 3 of 18
[5] After commencement of Manipur Services (Revised Pay) Rules
2010, Government of Manipur issued order dated 03-06-2011, published in
Gazette Notification No. 23 dated 14-09-2011 under Article 309 of the
Constitution of India, revising the pay scales of various categories of regular
teachers under the School Education Department. As per the said
Notification, the pay scale of Graduate Teachers (Untrained) in the Senior
Scale was fixed at Rs. 9300-34800/- + AGP Rs. 4100/-. Accordingly, the
petitioner was allowed to enjoy the said Senior Scale till her retirement on
superannuation.
[6] The petitioner retired from service as Science Graduate Teacher
on attaining the age of superannuation w.e.f. 31-12-2016 vide order dated
24-07-2017. The petitioner was drawing pay in the scale of Rs. 9300–
34800/- + AGP Rs. 4100/- (revised), notionally w.e.f. 01-01-2006 with cash
benefit from 01-07-2011 till her retirement on 31-12-2016. However, instead
of calculating the pension and other retiral benefits of the petitioner in the
scale of Rs. 9300-34800 + AGP Rs. 4100 and total emolument received by
the petitioner, the office of the Accountant General wrongly calculated all the
pensionary benefits and other retiral benefits of the petitioner base on the
lower pay scale of Rs. 5200-20200 + GP 2800 without any reason. The
miscalculation had caused huge serious reduction in the monthly pension
and other retiral benefits of the petitioner which is highly irregular and
discouraging for retired employee in their heydays whose service was
already utilized by the Government.
[7] Similarly situated Graduate Teachers had filed WP(C) No. 780 of
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 4 of 18
2017 and WP(C) No. 410 of 2018 before the Hon’ble High Court and during
pendency of the said petitions, the State Government issued office
memorandum dated 23-03-2019 clarifying that those teachers who had
accepted/opted the modified ROP dated 03-06-2011 and retired from
service, the applicable amount of pension may be calculated as 50% of
average age emolument or last pay drawn i.e. 50% of pay in pay band plus
AGP. The petitioner had accepted/opted the modified ROP dated 03-06-
2011 and she enjoyed the benefit of the office memorandum till her
retirement from service. The Hon’ble High Court disposed of those writ
petitions on 08-08-2019 in terms of the said office memorandum which are
as follows:—
“13. In the result,
(a) the writ petition is allowed.
(b) the respondents are directed to pay pension to the petitioners at
the rate of 50% of average emolument or last emolument i.e.
50% of pay band plus AGP.
(c) The respondents are also directed to calculate and pay the
petitioners 50% of the pension amount as per Gazette
notification dated 03.06.2011 in Serial No. 2 and 3 applicable to
the petitioners.
(d) the said exercise shall be done within a period of two months
from the date of receipt of this copy.”
[8] However, the present petitioner, who is not party in the above
referred writ petitions has been left out.
[9] The submissions of respondent No. 2 are that —
(i) The petitioner even though, stated that she was initially appointed
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 5 of 18
as substitute teacher at Tendongyan U.J.B. School with immediate
effect vide Order No. 2/30/70-ED(R)(1)(a), dated 30-11-1977 and
regularised with effect from joining duty vide order No. 2/5/77-
ED(P)(x), dated 08-11-1978, as well as, up-gradation of her
service to the post of Graduate Teacher vide order No. 46/2/87-
ED(Jr), dated 27-03-1992 with retrospective effect from 31-12-
1987, relevant copy of the order(s) are not found annexed in the
copy of the writ petition furnished to the Finance Department.
Hence, Finance Department cannot ascertain whether the
petitioner was appointed, regularised and upgraded her service to
the post of Undergraduate Teacher, in the absence of the orders
mentioned therein.
(ii) Placement of the petitioner, among others, on the
recommendation of Screening committee meeting held on 20-12-
1999, in the Senior scale of pay of Rs. 5500-9000/- effective from
03-12-1999 corresponding to the existing pay scale of Rs. 4500-
7000/- as shown at Sl. No. 4 under ANNEXURE ‘A’ of the order
No. 2/4-1/97-ED(ZEO/Z-1)(IV), dated 31-12-1999 was issued by
the Office of the Zonal Education Officer, IDZ-I, Manipur in view of
Government’s order No. 38/3(1)/95-SE(H/S), dated 14-07-1997
and No. 1/115/98-PIC, dated 11-01-1999 and 07-09-1999 (as in
ANNEXURE – A/4 to the Writ Petition). As such, Finance
Department has nothing to say.
(iii) As per Cabinet decisions taken on 02-03-2011 and 02-06-2011,
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 6 of 18
the Schools Education Department issued Order No. 31/5/2001-
SE(S), dated 03/06/2011 (as in ANNEXURE – A/5 to the Writ
Petition) thereby accorded sanction to the revision of scales of pay
of different categories of regular teachers whereby the Sr. Scale
of Untrained Graduate Teacher of the petitioner has been revised
after 12 years of regular service in the grade PB-2; Rs. 9300-
34800 + AGP 4100. AGP includes Grade Pay of Rs. 3400 plus
Academic Allowance of Rs. 700. Hence, Finance Department has
no more comments to offer.
(iv) In the Last Pay Certificate issued by the Head Mistress of
Khonghampat High School (as in ANNEXURE - A/6 to the Writ
Petition) calculation of pay of the petitioner has been made in the
scale of pay of Rs. 9300-34800 + AGP 4100 in respect of her
retirement effective from 31-12-2016 (AN) vide Order No.
46/3/2015-ED(V)Z-1, dated 24-07-2017 (as in ANNEXURE - A/7
to the Writ Petition) issued by the Directorate of Schools Education
(Valley Section). As such, Finance Department has nothing to say.
(v) Office of the Principal Accountant General (A&E), Manipur may be
clarified on the allegation of the petitioner in respect of calculation
of the pensionary benefits of the petitioner in the pay scale of Rs.
5200-20200 + GP 2800.
(vi) The clarificatory Office Memorandum No. 12(HC)/43/2018-SE(S),
dated 23/03/2019 (as in ANNEXURE A/9 to the Writ Petition) was
issued by the Schools Education Department with the concurrence
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 7 of 18
of Finance Department (Pay Implementation Cell) in respect of
calculation of pension for those teachers who opted the modified
ROP, 2010 vide Order No. 31/5/2001-SE(S) dated 03-06-2011.
Hence, Finance Department has no further comments to offer
(vii) On the basis of the clarification of the Office of the Principal
Accountant General (A&E), Manipur with regard to the mode of
calculation of pension in respect of the petitioner, the claim of the
petitioner may be considered.
[10] The submissions of respondent No. 4 are that —
(i) Examination of pension papers and service records is the
bounded duty of the office of the Principal Accountant General
(A&E), Manipur [Respondent No. 4]. It is found that the instant
petitioner was appointed as assistant teacher on regular basis with
effect from the date of joining duty in the scale of Rs. 215-340/-
(Matriculate Scale) vide DE(S)’s Order No. 2/5/77-ED(P)(I) dated
08/11/1978 (Annexure-A/1 of the present Writ Petition) and joined
duty on 17/11/1978. She was possessing requisite qualification
scale of Undergraduate Teacher scale of Rs. 260-500/- p.m. with
effect from 17/11/1978, i.e., from the date of his initial appointment
against her substantive post of Matriculate Teacher
retrospectively and also was upgraded to the post of Graduate
Teacher in the scale of pay of Rs. 1400-2300/- p.m. retrospectively
w.e.f. 31-12-1987 vide order No. 8/30/80-ED(VI) dated 27-03-
1992 (Annexure-A/2 of the Writ Petition). However, there was no
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 8 of 18
clarification/confirmation as whether the above orders were issued
with the concurrence of Finance Department in compliance to the
Rules 42-A of General Financial Rules, 1963 (now Rule 267 of
GFR-2005) read with the Government of Manipur, Finance
Department (PIC) O.M. No. 18/5/2005-FD(PIC) dated 10/10/2005.
(ii) “Those teachers who were given higher scale without following
due norms and procedure shall be allowed pension only as per
their substantive post as per the relevant RRS and ROPs” vide
Government order No. 12(HC)/70/2015-SE(S) dated 16-08-2016
and “the grant of scale of higher post (the so-called qualification
scale) to teachers under Education(S) Department, Manipur has
been cancelled with immediate effect” vide Government Order No.
32/1/2010-SE(S) dated 06-09-2016.
(iii) Hon’ble High Court passed an order dated 27-10-2018 in
Contempt Case (C) No. 65 of 2016 (All Manipur Elementary
School Teachers Association Vs. Shri H. Deleep Singh & others)
wherein the contempt petition was closed with the direction as
“whereas, those teachers who were appointed as Matriculate
automatically enjoy higher/pay/qualification scale of pay even
though the concern teachers had acquired higher qualification and
those teachers who were given higher scale without following due
norms and procedure shall be allowed pension only as per their
substantive post as per the relevant RRS and ROPs". As such,
her pension was finished/ settled at the respective scales of her
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 9 of 18
substantive post.
(iv) On receipt of the Government Order No. 31/5/2001-SE(S) dated
03-06-2011 (Annexure-A/5 of the Writ Petition), the Principal
Secretary (School Education), Government of Manipur was
requested for furnishing clarifications/decision on the doubt points
vide this office letter No. TM/1-946/ROP 2010 dated 01-02-2013.
Further, clarification on the anomalies of the regulation of pay
under the provision of the F.R. after sanction of the revision of
scales of pay along with Academic Grade Pay (AGP) of different
categories of School Teachers under the School Education
Department was also sought vide this office letter No. Pen-II/Edn-
5/Policy(AGP)/2012/780 dated 12-07-2016 and subsequent
reminder letter of even number dated 11-09-2017 and 06-02-
2018. However, the replies from the State Government are still
awaited. As and when decision/clarification from the State
Government is received with full justification, this office,
Respondent No. 4 will be revised as per their clarification as
necessary. As such, there is no pending action on the part of
Respondent No. 4.
[11] The submissions of respondent Nos. 1 & 3 are that—
(i) The service of the petitioner was regularised to the post of
Matriculate Teacher in the pay scale of Rs. 215-340/- p.m. vide
order dated 08-11-1978 (Annexure A/2 to the writ petition.
(ii) The next promotional post of Matriculate Teacher is Under
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Graduate Teacher. The present petitioner failed to
disclose/enclose the particular date of order for promotion to
the post of Under Graduate Teacher. In this regard, it is to state
that the petitioner was regularised to the post of Matriculate
Teacher w.e.f. 08-11-1978 and she was upgraded to the post
of Graduate Teacher w.e.f. 31-12-1987 i.e. 9 years counting
from the date of her regularisation till the effective date of
upgradation. The minimum qualifying service for promotion to
the post of Under Graduate Teacher from the post of
Matriculate Teacher is 5 (five) years as per RR dated 25-08-
1970. In the order dated 27-03-1992 upgrading M. Nilabati Devi
to the post of Graduate Teacher, it is mentioned that she had
put in 8 years of regular service in the grade of Assistant
Undergraduate Teacher. However, the petitioner had only put
in 9 years of regular service from the date of her initial
appointment, on the date of her upgradation to the post of
Graduate Teacher. Therefore, it appears that she was not
promoted to the post of Undergraduate Teacher except matter
of allowing her to enjoy the qualification scale of pay attached
to the post of under Graduate Teacher.
(iii) Those teachers who were appointed as Matriculate teachers
are not entitled to automatically enjoy higher pay/qualification
scale of pay even though he/she had acquired higher
qualification. Those teachers who were given higher scale
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without following due norms and procedure shall be allowed
pension only as per their substantive post according to the
relevant RRs and ROPs. The same is reflected in the
Government order No.12 (HC)/70/2015-SE(S) dated the 16-
08- 2016. Therefore, her pensionary benefit is to be calculated
as per her substantive post.
(iv) The Office Memorandum dated 23-03-2019 should be read
with Government order No.12(HC)/70/2015-SE(S) dated 16-
08- 2016 and the 50% of average emolument or last pay drawn
as mentioned in the OM should be applicable to the substantive
post held by the pensioner before retirement. Further, the
factual and law points involved in the present case are totally
different from the WP(C) No. 780 of 2017 and WP(C) No. 410
of 2018.
[12] The further submissions of the petitioner are that —
(i) The upgradation of petitioner from undergraduate Teacher post to
Graduate Teacher vide order dated 27-03-1992 (Annexure-A/3)
was issued after approval of the Government, and copy of the
order was issued to the Accountant General Manipur. And
obtaining of Finance Department concurrence and other
formalities are the duties of the concerned officials/ respondents.
And by the same order the corresponding under-graduate teacher
post which was held by the petitioner was also abolished. Further,
the order dated 16-08-2016, as in Annexure-R/3 to the affidavit-in-
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 12 of 18
opposition was issued for disposal of the representation filed by
the All Manipur Elementary School Teachers' Association
(AMESTA) is concerning to the petitioner of WP(C) No. 332 of
2015 and WP(C) No. 709 of 2010. However, the same was
superseded vide Government order No.32/1/2010-SE(S) dated
24-06-2017. The Government order dated 06-09-2016, as in
Annexure-R/4 to the affidavit-in-opposition was withdrawn/
cancelled by issuing order No. 32/1/2010-SE(S) dated 24-06-2014
in pursuance of the Cabinet decision dated 28-04-2017. And the
respondent No.4 by concealing the subsequent order dated 24-
06-2017 produced the order dated 06-09-2016 as in Annexure-R/4
so as to mislead the Hon'ble Court and defeating the writ petition.
(ii) The State Government with the concurrence of the Finance
Department (PIC) already issued office memorandum dated 25-
03-2019 (Annexure-A/9 to the petition) by giving clarification on
calculation of pension for those teachers who opted the modified
ROP, 2010 and retired from service, the applicable amount of
pension may be calculated as 50% of average emoluments or last
pay drawn i.e. 50% of pay in pay band plus AGP.
(iii) The service of the petitioner as substitute teacher was regularized
vide order dated 08-11-1978. And vide order dated 27-03-1992
her service was upgraded to the post of Graduate Teacher.
Therefore, the services rendered by the petitioner from the date of
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 13 of 18
regular appointment till upgradation to the post of Graduate
Teacher is 14 (fourteen) years and not 9 (nine) years.
[13] Mr. L. Raju, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner was initially appointed as a Substitute Teacher vide order dated
30-11-1977 [Annexure A-1] issued by the Director of Education (S), Govt. of
Manipur and her service was regularized vide another order dated 08-11-
1978 [Annexure A-2]. Vide another order dated 27-03-1992 [Annexure A-
3] and on the approval of the Government, the service of the petitioner as
Assistant Undergraduate Teacher was upgraded to the post of Graduate
Teacher in the scale of Rs.1400-2300/- pm with DA and other allowances
as admissible under the rules with retrospective effect from 31-12-1987 and
abolished her Under Graduate post. The pay scale was fixed notionally with
not arrears of pay and allowances from 31-12-1987 to 31-03-1990 and
actual payment in higher scale with effect from 01-04-1990 as per RoP of
1990. Learned counsel further points out that by another Order dated 31-12-
1999 [Annexure A-4] issued by the Zonal Education Officer and with the
approval of the competent authority including the Finance Department, the
services of many teachers including the petitioner herein were placed in the
senior scale of pay with effect from the date indicated against them after
proper verification of their service records. The name of the petitioner was
placed at serial number 4 in Annexure “A” with date of regular appointment
as Graduate Teacher on 03-12-1987 and was placed in senior scale of
Rs.5500-9000 wef 03-12-1999 from the lower scale of Rs.4500-7000. It is
stated that by an Order dated 03-6-2011 [Annexure A-5] issued by
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 14 of 18
Education Department and published in Manipur Gazette on 14-09-2011,
Pay Scale of Untrained Graduate Teacher in Senior Scale after 12 years of
service was fixed as Rs.9300-34800 + AGP Rs.4100 [3400+700]. In terms
of the order dated 03-06-2011, the petitioner was placed in the pay scale of
Rs.9300-34800+4100. On superannuation wef 31-12-2017, the last pay
certificate reflects the said scale of Rs.9300-34800+ AGP Rs.4100 with pay
band of Rs.18700 and Gross amount of Rs.54,212/ -. However, in
preparation of pension book, the petitioner was placed in a lower pay scale
of Rs.5200-20200 GP-2800.
[14] Mr. L. Raju, learned counsel has submitted that the petitioner is
aggrieved by wrong fixation of her pension at a lower scale of Rs.5200
without any justification when she was already placed in a higher scale of
Rs.9300 by Government’s own order issued after getting all necessary
approval and after proper verification. It is urged that Office Memorandum
dated 25-03-2019 issued by Administrative Department (Education-S)
provided that the applicable amount of pension of regular teacher who opted
for modified RoP dated 03-06-2011 would be calculated as 50% of average
emoluments or last emolument, i.e., 50% of pay in the pay band plus AGP.
It is clarified that the petitioner had already opted for modified RoP 2011 and
as per Order dated 31-12-1999 [Annexure A-4], she was placed in the senior
scale of Rs.5500-9000 and as per Order dated 03-0602011 [Annexure A-5],
she was entitled to the higher scale of Rs.9300-34800+4100 and her last
pay certificate at the time of superannuation was also in the scale of
Rs.9300-34800+4100. Learned counsel submits that fixation of pay for
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 15 of 18
pensionary benefit at a lower scale if Rs.5200-20200+GP-2800 is totally
arbitrary. It is submitted that salary of a government employee cannot be
reduced except as punishment in a disciplinary proceeding for misconduct.
It is also stated that reduction of pay scale without notice to the employee is
illegal as held by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Bhagawan Shukla
v. Union of India: AIR 1994 SC 2480. It is vehemently submitted that once
the order for entitlement of higher pay had already been issued by the
employer after getting necessary approval from the competent authority and
after proper verification of entire service record, the authority now cannot
resile from such orders on the sole ground that such orders are not available
in the office record. Mr. L. Raju emphasizes that the duty of keeping record
lies with the employer and the employee is not responsible for non-traceable
of relevant order. An employee cannot be penalized for the lapse of officials.
Similarly situated employees have already given relief of pension at higher
pay @ 50% of last drawn salary in the judgement dated 08-08-2019 passed
by this Court in WP(C) Nos. 780 of 2017& 410 of 2018 and dated 19-06-
2020 in WP(C) No. 548 of 2018 and the orders have already been complied.
It is submitted that the present case is covered by these judgments which
attained finality. It is prayed that the pensionary benefit of the petitioner be
fixed on the basis of last drawn salary, i.e., Rs.9300-34800+4100.
[15] Mrs. Ch. Sundari, learned GA submitted that relevant copy regarding
appointment, regularization and up-gradation order(s) of the petitioner to the
post of Graduate Teacher annexed with the writ petition, are not found in the
files of the department and the same were issued without the concurrence
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 16 of 18
of the Finance Department. Hence, the petitioner was just holding and
receiving higher pay without following the rules and hence she would be
entitled to pension at the scale in the substantive post of under graduate.
Accordingly, fixation of pension on the basis of substantive post at a lower
scale is justifiable.
[16] Mr. S. Suresh, learned counsel for the respondent No. 4 has
submitted that those teachers who were given higher scale without following
due norms and procedure shall be allowed pension only as per their
substantive post as per the relevant RRS and ROPs” vide Government order
No. 12(HC)/70/2015-SE(S) dated 16-08-2016 and “the grant of scale of
higher post (the so-called qualification scale) to teachers under Education(S)
Department, Manipur has been cancelled with immediate effect” vide
Government Order No. 32/1/2010-SE(S) dated 06-09-2016.
[17] This Court has perused the materials on record, the
submission at bar and relevant law in this regard. The short issued involved
in the present case is “whether an employee who has been duly promoted
to higher pay scale vide order dated 31-12-1999 [A-4] and order dated 03-
06-2011 [A-5], can be denied the pay scale of the higher post without any
proceeding in this regard that too without issuing any notice?”
[18] It is seen from the record that the petitioner was initially
appointed as a substitute teacher vide order dated 30-11-2-1977 and
regularized vide order dated 08-11-1978. Then she was upgraded to the
post of Graduate Teacher vide another dated 27-03-1992 with retrospective
effect from 31-12-1987. Later on, she was placed in higher scale of senior
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 17 of 18
pay of Rs.5500-9000 with the approval of the competent authority and with
the concurrence of the Finance Department. Later on, she was given the
scale of Rs.9300-34800+AGP-4100 by another order dated 03-06-2011 and
she retired from service on 31-12-2017 with the same pay scale of Rs.9300.
It is also on record that Office Memorandum dated 25-03-2019 stipulates
that the pension will be calculated @ 50% of the last drawn pay band and
the said OM has been upheld by this Courts in WP(C) Nos. 780 of 2017; 410
of 2018 & 548 of 2018 by various orders which have attained finality. The
case of the petitioner is also similar with the facts of the above referred
cases. The only reason given by the authority for denying higher pay scale
is that the orders of upgradation to graduate post are not available with the
administrative department.
[19] This Court is of the opinion that the petitioner cannot be denied
the higher pay scale for calculation of pension only on the ground that the
department could not trace the relevant orders. This is the lapse of the
administrative department and the employee cannot be penalised for their
lapse. Moreover, it is the settled proposition of law the pay scale of an
employee cannot be reduced at his/her disadvantage , except for
punishment in a departmental proceeding. The effect of the order dated 31-
12-1999 [A-4] placing the petitioner in the higher pay scale along with others
on the approval of the competent authority including the Finance
Department, cannot be wished away by the employer that too on a flimsy
ground of non-existence of orders. This Court holds that the petitioner
cannot be denied the higher pay scale for calculation of the pension, unless
WP(C) No. 588 of 2021 Page 18 of 18
the earlier orders are cancelled or recalled by the authority after following
due process. The denial of the higher pay scale to the petitioner is without
any authority, arbitrary and untenable. It may be pointed out the issuing
authority cannot plead that the order issued by it is illegal, unless the same
is recalled by the same authority.
[20] In the circumstances, the writ petition is allowed and the
respondents are directed to calculate the pension of the petitioner on the
basis of last drawn salary, i.e., Rs.9300-34800+AGP-4100 and the whole
process shall be completed within a period of 3 months from the date of
receipt of a copy of this order. No cost.
[21] Send a copy of this order to the Director of Education (S), Govt. of
Manipur and Principal Accountant General (A&E), Manipur for doing
needful.
JUDGE
FR/NFR
Victoria
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