Madras High Court
The Secretary To Government vs N.Alagarsamy on 10 October, 2022
W.A.Nos.817 & 818 of 2017
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 10.10.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SUBRAMANIAN
AND
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.KUMARESH BABU
Writ Appeal (MD) Nos.817 & 818 of 2017
and CMP (MD) Nos. 5671 & 5672 of 2017
1. The Secretary to Government
School Education,
Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.
2. The Director of School Education,
College Road, Chennai 600 006.
3. The Chief Educational Officer,
Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.
4. The District Educational Officer,
Aruppukkottai Educational District,
Aruppukkotai, Virudhunagar District.
5. The Headmaster,
Government Higher Secondary School,
Tamilpadi, Virudhunagar District. ..Appellants in both the Appeals
Vs.
N.Alagarsamy .. Respondent in WA (MD) No.817/2017
V.Santhi .. Respondent in WA (MD) No.818/2017
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W.A.Nos.817 & 818 of 2017
Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent, against the
order passed by this Court dated 01.11.2016 passed in (i) W.P.(MD)
No.20873 of 2016 (ii) W.P.(MD) No.20874 of 2016 respectively.
For Appellants : Mrs. S.Mythreye Chandru
(in both the Appeals) Special Govt. Pleader (Edn.)
For Respondents : Mr.A.Arulvadivel @ Sekar
(in both the Appeals)
COMMON JUDGMENT
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by R.SUBRAMANIAN, J.)
The Writ Appeals have been posted upon a reference being
answered by a Full Bench of this Court in WA No.3674 of 2019 etc. batch
dated 29.04.2022. A reference was made to a Full Bench in view of the
conflict between two Division Bench judgments of this Court, one in WA
(MD) Nos.701 and 769 of 2015 etc., dated 15.07.2015 (The Director of
School Education and others v. S.Amalraj) holding that a teacher is
entitled to a third set of incentive increment on account of acquiring higher
qualification and the other in WA No.1664 of 2016 dated 29.06.2018 (The
Director of School Education and others v. V.Dhanapal) taking a contrary
view and concluding that a teacher, during the entire tenure of service, would
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W.A.Nos.817 & 818 of 2017
be entitled to only two sets of incentive increments and nothing more.
2. Upon a reference being made, the Full Bench had answered the
issue concluding that the judgment of the Division Bench in WA. No.1664 of
2016 dated 29.06.2018 reflects the correct position of law. After considering
the various Government Orders issued on the subject, the Full Bench had
observed as follows:
“12. A perusal of the above order puts the
issue beyond pale of doubt that as per the policy of
the Government, a teacher for the entire period of
his/her service shall be granted two incentives (four
increments) only. Therefore, there cannot be any
dispute regarding the fact that a Secondary Grade
Teacher or B.T.Assistant or Post Graduate Teacher
during the entire period of service as a teacher, is
entitled to get only two incentive increments. Taking
note of the same only, the Division Bench in
W.A.No.1664 of 2016 dated 29.06.2018 (The Director
of School Education and others v. V.Dhanapal) has
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W.A.Nos.817 & 818 of 2017
categorically held that the acquisition of an M.Phil.
qualification does not entitle a teacher for a third
incentive increment, in view of G.O.Ms.No.1024,
Education, Science and Technology Department,
dated 09.12.1993 restricting the number of incentive
increments to two and therefore, any teacher is not
entitled to a third incentive increment.”
3. An attempt is made by Mr.Sasidharan and Mr.Ganesan,
appearing for some of the teachers to contend that those teachers who have
obtained the additional qualification prior to 09.12.1993, namely the date on
which G.O.Ms.Nos.1023 and 1024 came to be issued would be entitled to
incentive increments, since the number of increments was limited only by the
said two Government Orders. We are unable to accept the said contention of
the learned counsel appearing for some of the respondents because the Full
Bench has categorically held that any teacher during the entire period of
his/her tenure would be entitled only to two sets of incentive increments.
4. In view of the categorical pronouncement of the Full Bench
extracted above, we cannot take any other view. Hence the Writ Appeals
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W.A.Nos.817 & 818 of 2017
filed by the Government will stand allowed and the Writ Petitions will stand
dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected
miscellaneous petitions is closed.
(R.SUBRAMANIAN, J.) (K.KUMARESH BABU, J.)
10.10.2022
Index: Yes/No
Internet: Yes/No
speaking order/non speaking order
jv
To
1. The Secretary to Government
School Education,
Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.
2. The Director of School Education,
College Road, Chennai 600 006.
3. The Chief Educational Officer,
Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.
4. The District Educational Officer,
Aruppukkottai Educational District,
Aruppukkotai, Virudhunagar District.
5. The Headmaster,
Government Higher Secondary School,
Tamilpadi, Virudhunagar District.
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W.A.Nos.817 & 818 of 2017
R.SUBRAMANIAN, J.
and
K.KUMARESH BABU, J.
(jv)
Writ Appeal (MD) Nos.817 & 818 of 2017
and CMP (MD) Nos. 5671 & 5672 of 2017
10.10.2022
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
