Tripura High Court
Smt. Supriya Das & Others vs The State Of Tripura & Others on 24 May, 2024
Page 1 of 3
HIGH COURT OF TRIPURA
AGARTALA
WP(C) No.355 of 2024
Smt. Supriya Das & others
.........Petitioner(s);
Versus
The State of Tripura & others
.........Respondent(s)
For Petitioner(s) : Mr. A. Bhaumik, Advocate,
Mr. S. Dey, Advocate.
For Respondent(s) : Mr. Kohinoor N. Bhattacharyya, G.A.,
Ms. Kahina Reang, Advocate.
HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. APARESH KUMAR SINGH
Order
24/05/2024
Petitioners have approached this Court seeking the benefit of past
service for all purposes including pension, gratuity, leave at credit, pay
protection, counting of period for the purpose of determining five years' fixed
pay period and extend the arrears of financial benefits in their favour upon grant
of such benefit. The brief facts of the case as pleaded are referred to hereinafter.
Petitioners contend that they were initially appointed to the post of Graduate
Teacher under the Directorate of Elementary Education. They participated in
the fresh selection process after obtaining No Objection Certificate from their
previous employer and got selected in the post of Graduate Teacher (Secondary
Level). Thereafter, they also took technical resignation which was accorded to
them to join in the new post of Graduate Teacher (Secondary Level). They
joined in the new post of Graduate Teacher (Secondary Level) through proper
channel and also took technical resignation to join in the new post. The
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India
has also issued an office memorandum dated 17.08.2016 regarding the effect of
the technical resignation. The said memo is also adopted in the State of Tripura
and it provides that in case of Technical Resignation, the past service of an
employee is counted for all purposes. The resignation is treated as technical
resignation if the employee has applied through proper channel for a post in the
same or some other department and on selection is required to resign from the
previous post for administrative reasons. Petitioners contend that similarly
situated teachers had approached this Court by filing WP(C) No.722/2022 and
vide judgment and order dated 17.03.2023, this Court had directed the
department to consider their representations. Thereafter, vide memorandum
dated 17.12.2023, three writ petitioners have been granted the benefit of past
service. In WP(C) No.141/2024 in the case of Sri Anup Baul & others v. The
State of Tripura & others, this Court directed the respondents to consider the
representation of the petitioners and pass appropriate order in light of the
memorandum dated 17.12.2023. According to the petitioners, the instant case is
also covered by the judgment and order dated 06.01.2021 passed in WP(C)
No.234/2020 and other batch matters wherein this Court extended benefit of
past service to persons appointed to teaching posts from non-teaching posts.
The representation made by the petitioners on 04.04.2024 has not yet been
acted upon. Therefore, they have approached this Court.
2. Mr. A. Bhaumik, learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that
the respondents may be directed to consider the representation of the petitioners
in accordance with law and grant the aforesaid benefits. He also relies upon the
case of Sri Dilip Shil & others v. The State of Tripura & others in WP(C)
No.722 of 2022 wherein pursuant to the order dated 17.03.2023 passed by this
Court, those writ petitioners have been granted the benefit of past service. As
such, the respondents may be directed to take a decision in accordance with law
in respect of the present petitioners also.
3. Mr. Kohinoor N. Bhattacharyya, learned Government Advocate
for the respondents-State, submits that the instant petition has been taken up for
the first time. Therefore, instructions are awaited. However, since the
consideration on this issue at the first instance lies before the competent
authority under the department; in case the representation of the petitioners has
not been considered on account of enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct,
the respondent-department would consider it in accordance with law in a
suitable time as may be directed by this Court.
4. Having regard to the nature of relief sought for by the petitioners,
since the representation of the petitioners is pending before the concerned
respondent authority, this Court without expressing any opinion on the merits
of the case deems it proper to direct the competent authority/respondent No.2 to
take a decision upon their representation in accordance with law within a
reasonable period preferably within 16(sixteen) weeks from the date of receipt
of copy of this order.
5. The instant petition is disposed of with the aforesaid observations.
Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.
(APARESH KUMAR SINGH), CJ
Pulak
PULAK BANIK Digitally signed by PULAK BANIK
Date: 2024.05.27 16:06:52 +05'30'
