Case: Ahalya A. Samtaney Vs. The State of Maharashtra and Ors

2. The Appellant obtained a Post Graduate degree (M.A.) and thereafter completed her Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.). She was appointed as a tutor of English in the H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai (Respondent No. 6), in which position she carried on her professional duties from 15.12.1974 to 31.7.75 in the grade pay-scale of Rs. 250-15-400. The then existing pattern of education was of 10 years schooling and 4 years of college. The appointment of the Appellant was approved by the University of Mumbai (Respondent No. 4) on 15.5.19753. The Appellant continued to work as a tutor in English till 31.7.1975, when she was promoted as a Lecturer of English in the Senior College w.e.f. 1.8.1975. The Appellant continued to work in that capacity up to 30.9.1976 in the revised grade pay-scale of Rs. 700-50-16004. A new pattern of education was introduced from June, 1976 under the pattern of 10+2+3, as a consequence of which the Appellant was rendered fully surplus in the senior college. The Government of Maharashtra (Respondent No. 1) conscious of such consequences, laid down certain guidelines for absorption of the lecturers rendered surplus due to the new 10+2+3 pattern vide the Government Resolution No. HSC. 1076/419-XX-XXI dated 11th June 1976. It is in view of these guidelines that the Appellant was appointed as a full time teacher in English now in the junior college w.e.f. 1.10.1976, in the pay-scale of Rs. 500-900 instead of Rs. 700-50-16005. It is on 3.6.1977 that the Appellant took up the issue of her re-appointment as a full time lecturer in college in view of the fact that she had been working for two years with Respondent No. 6 College and in response thereto on 14.6.1977, the Principal of the College informed the Appellant that the college was appointing her as a full time lecturer of English in the junior college and that her salary would remain the same6. The Government of Maharashtra by Resolution dated 25.10.1977 sought to revise the pay-scales of University and School teachers retrospectively from 1.1.1973. The consequence of this for the Appellant was that her salary was revised to Rs. 700-50-1600 from 1.8.1975, i.e., the date of her promotion as a lecturer in the senior college7. The other developments which took place were that by the order dated 19.6.1978, the Principal of the College appointed her as a full time Lecturer in the Junior College and thereafter allowing her to contribute to the Provident Fund. The College informed the Joint Director of Higher Education that they were desirous of absorbing the Appellant in the Degree College w.e.f. 1.1.1994 and to fix her pay in the scale of Rs. 2200-4000 from 1.12.1993. This absorption was approved by the University by the order dated 31.1.1994. There were certain other communications also exchanged in the same direction8. The Appellant sought regularisation of her pay-scale, a grievance, which was not redressed, which resulted in her filing writ petition No. 1840/1998, before the Bombay High Court. The gravamen of the case of the Appellant in the High Court was that the Appellant was squarely covered by a Government Resolution dated 11.6.1976, which dealt with cases like those of the Appellant being rendered surplus. Since the Appellant was appointed as a full time teacher of English in Junior College w.e.f. 1.10.1976, the Appellant claimed protection of her pay9. It is the case of the Appellant that the appendix to the Government Resolution of 11.6.1976 contains the guidelines for absorption of teachers determined as surplus at college levels. The appendix has a number of clauses, but what is germane for the present controversy is Clause No. (iii) on which reliance is placed by the Appellant and reads as under:(iii) College teachers who were in service on or before 7th February, 1975 and were also in continuous service upto the end of the academic year 1975-76 in a college or colleges under the same management but had not completed two years of continuous service upto the end of academic year 1975-76;10. The case of the Appellant is based on her being in service on or before 7.2.1975, as she was working with the college as a tutor from 15.12.1974 and that she continued her service up to the academic year 1975-76 in the college, but could not complete two years of continuous service by then, on account of the new pattern of education. There was a simultaneous declaration of the Appellant as surplus on 29.9.1976, with her appointment as a full time teacher in the Junior College w.e.f. 1.10.1976. In terms of the Government resolutions, the Appellant claimed pay-scale of Rs. 700-1600. She claimed placement in this pay-scale from 1.8.1975 in view of the pay-scale existing for Senior Lecturer and Lecturer (junior scale), which were revised. She, thus, also claimed entitlement to all consequential arrears on account of re-fixation of pay. The defence of the Respondents is based on the alleged non-continuous service on account of her termination on 30.9.1976 with her re-appointment in the junior college w.e.f. 1.10.1976. Thus, it was claimed that the Appellant is not covered by Clause (iii) having worked as a tutor till 31.7.1975 and being appointed as a Lecturer in the senior college only w.e.f. 1.8.197511. The reasoning advanced on behalf of the Respondents found favour with the High Court, which dismissed the writ petition by the order dated 24.7.2017. What weighed with the High Court was the fact that the initial appointment of the Appellant was as a tutor of English in the senior college and the appointment was approved by the University as such. Thus, she was working as a tutor on or before 7.2.1975 and the case of college tutors was to be considered in accordance with Clauses (iv) & (v) of the Guidelines, which read as under:(iv) College tutors/Demonstrators and persons in equivalent grade (Rs. 250-400) F.T. who were either confirmed in clear vacancies or who had been completed two years of service in clear vacancies in a college or colleges under the same management on or before 7th February 1975 and who fulfil the qualifications prescribed by the University concerned for appointment as lecturers and are, therefore, entitled to deemed date of 1st July 1975;(v) College tutors/demonstrators and persons in equivalent grade (Rs. 250-400) who were either confirmed in clear vacancies or who had completed two years of service in clear vacancies in a college or colleges under the same management on or before 7th February, 1975 but who do not fulfil the qualifications prescribed by the University concerned for appointment as lecturers12. The conclusion reached was that Clause (iii) of the Guidelines and the consequent revision of scales prescribed are applicable to those alone who are working as senior lecturers/lecturers covered by the said clause, while the Appellant was not working in that capacity on that cut-off date, but became a lecturer only from a subsequent date. The Appellant, before the cut off date of 7.2.1975, was only working as a tutor in the senior college.

Court's reasoning:
13. We may note that delay and laches has also been found to be an additional obstruction in the way of the Appellant as the pay-scale was fixed in the year 1976 while the petition was filed in the year 1998This is so as the Appellant was working under the old pattern of 10+4 in the senior college, but for no fault of hers, on account of change in the education pattern to 10+2+3, she was rendered "fully surplus" in the degree college in June, 1976. As a consequence of the same, the services of the Appellant were terminated from the senior college by the letter dated 29.9.1976, but came along with an almost simultaneous/immediate transfer in the junior college with effect from 1.10.1976. It is also relevant to note that the appointment letter records that the salary of the Appellant shall remain the same. However, when the Appellant joined the junior college from 1.10.1976 she was given the pay-scale of Rs. 500-900 instead of Rs. 700-1600. This was so, as under the Resolution dated 11.6.1976, extracted partly aforesaid, the Appellant would not fit in any of the categories of P-1 to P-5. The Appellant, being a tutor on the cut-off date of 7.2.1975, would not fall in categories P-1 to P-3, while though a tutor was covered under categories P-4 and P-5, she did not meet the requisite parameters thereof. It was for the benefit of such persons like the Appellant, who did not fit in any of the categories, that the same were declared as "rest category" in the Government of Maharashtra Resolution dated 27.11.1991, and were accordingly given the benefit of the pay-scale of Rs. 700-1600 from their initial appointment date in the senior college16. There is really no dispute that the Appellant falls in the "rest category". This is inter alia acknowledged in the letter of the Principal of the College dated 16.11.1993 noticing that but for the loss of workload in the degree college she would have been working in the senior college but had to be re-appointed in the junior college. Once again in the letter dated 16.11.1993 addressed by the College to the University it is categorically stated that the Appellant falls in the "rest category". The only ground on which the Government refuses to consider her in the "rest category", is the absence of continuous employment and for no other reason. Her termination and re-appointment is being used against her. Para 5 of the counter affidavit before us is quite clear on this aspect. The one day gap arising from the letter dated 29.9.1976 informing the Appellant that she would be joining on 1.10.1976 in the junior college as she was declared surplus in the senior college from 29.9.1976 is, thus, sought to be put against her17. The aforesaid, thus, buttresses the claim of the Appellant that she had been in continuous service, but for this artificial break of one day, arising from the change in curriculum. This position continued till 31.12.1993 when she was transferred to the senior college in view of the vacancy arising from the retirement of one Mrs. K.I. Sippy on 31.12.1993. The Appellant continued to work in that capacity till September, 2011 when she retired from service, receiving pension18. It is also relevant to note that pension is granted only if there is 20 years of continuous service, thus, the grant of pension itself also supports the continuation of service of the Appellant20. We really do not have to labour much on this aspect as the High Court of Bombay itself had an occasion to examine the same in Writ Petition No. 2903/1989 titled Professor Pervez H. Lentin v. The Principal St. Xaviers College and Ors. decided on 17.2.200521. We are in complete agreement with the approach adopted by the High Court in the aforesaid judgment of deprecating such artificial breaks to deny the benefit to an employee, more so a teacher. We cannot lose sight of the fact that security of tenure for a teacher, who dedicates her life for education of the students, is of utmost importance. Insecurity should not be created in the employment of such lecturers or teachers, more so when they are through a process of really a subterfuge of giving artificial breaks. Another plus point is that this artificial break is also the result of a change in the educational curriculum. It is really a matter of internal adjustment arising from the change in curriculum and the Appellant has been in continuous service for two decades, but for this one day break. This is how it has been really understood by the college and by the State Government, as they have given pension to her which is admissible after 20 years of service22. We are also of the view that this issue has been receiving attention and has been agitated before different authorities and the alleged delay in filing the writ petition cannot stand in the way of the Appellant getting the benefit for services. The relevant pay-scale will entitle her to the emoluments which were admissible to her for work already performed.