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PETITIONER: DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL EDUCATION

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: T. LAKASHMAIAH & ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       02/04/1997

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, D.P. WADHWA

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT: Present:       Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Ramaswamy       Hon’ble Mr. Justice D.P. Wadhwa Anil Kumar Tandale, Adv. for the appellant  O R D E R      The following order of theCourt was delivered:      This appeal  by special  leave arises fromthe order of the Andhra  Pradesh Administrative  Tribunal,  Hyderabad  in R.P. No.767/81, made on  June 26,  1985. The  Tribunal has allowedthe representation petition, solely on the ground of defaulton  thepart  of the  appellantto filethe counter- affidavit. Therein  they had  claimed the  benefit of graded increments depending  upon the length of service in terms of G.O.Ms.No.41,Financeand  Planning (in Wing.PRC-I) dated 4.2.1980.      The admitted  position isthat  the  respondentswere workingin  thepost ofSenior Assistant Grade-II in the pay scale of Rs. 200-240/-.They were promoted to Grade-I in the scale of  Rs. 430-800/-.  The Government  passed an order in G.O.Ms.No.  235, dated September 7,  1979, effectivefrom April 1,  1978,granting  the revised  pay scales. As stated earlier, G.O.Ms.  No. 41,  Fin., dated4.2.1980  gives the benefitas under :      "Weightage for   servicein   the      existing post  or categoryshall be      asfollows in therevisedscale of      pay, 1978.      (i) All  employeesin Gr. I to XVII      shall be  allowed one increment for      service of three years  and  above      upto five years, two increments for      service of five  years  and  above      upto seven years,three increments      for service  of service seven years      and above."      The question,  therefore, is  : whether the respondents are entitled tohave their entire previous service as Trade- II teacher  lagged to  count the advance increments in terms of G.O.Ms.  No.41,  referred to  earlier.  Itspecifically envisages "weightage  of service  in the  existing  post  or

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category". It  would indicate  that the weightage  for the servicerendered  in the  existing postor category in which they are  working shall be taken  intoaccount in terms of G.O.Ms.No.  41. In  other words, if Grade-I teacher remains in Grade-I service evenafter putting in five years service, he is  entitledto  oneincrement; after five to seven years service, he  entitled to  two increments; and for service of seven years andabove, he is entitled to there increments as outer limit.  On his  promotionto  Grade II from Grade-I in the scale  of Rs.  430-800/-, necessarily  on his  rendering servicein  that post  or category,  namely, Grade-I, on his puttingin  service ofthree years  tofive  years,  he  is entitled to oneincrement; for five to seven years’ service, he is  entitledto  twoincrements; andfor service of seven years and  above, he  is entitled  to three  increments.  He cannot tag  on the  previous service  in  Grade-II  for the purposeof  claiming  the  advance  increment  in  terms  of G.O.Ms.No. 41,dated February 4, 1980.      The appeal,  therefore, is allowed. The  order of the Tribunal standsset aside. No costs.