K M SANTHAKUMARI Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner retired as a Selection Grade Lecturer in Physical Science from the Government Institute of Advanced Study in Education at Thrissur on 31.11.2002. The petitioner had obtained Ph.D. As per G.O(P) No. 171/1999, a teacher will be eligible for two advance increments as and when she/he acquires Ph.D decree in her/his service career. The petitioner's grievance in this writ petition is that the petitioner has not been given that benefit. According to the petitioner, the petitioner acquired Ph.D degree when she was working as Lecturer (Senior Scale) with a basic pay of Rs. 10,000/- on 27.1.1998. If advance increment was granted to the petitioner immediately on acquisition of Ph.D, the petitioner's basic pay would have been higher than Rs. 10,650/- and the petitioner would have got consequential benefits. But the same was not given to her. The petitioner would contend that on moving to Selection Grade, the petitioner is entitled to two more advance increments as per the Government Order, which also provides for two advance increments when a Lecturer with Ph.D moves to the post of Selection Grade Lecturer. That also has not been given to the petitioner, is the grievance of the petitioner. It is under the above circumstances the petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking the following reliefs:

(2.) RESPONDENTS 1 and 2 have filed a counter affidavit denying the claim of the petitioner.

(3.) I am of opinion that the petitioner is also entitled to the very same benefit. Accordingly, the two increments granted to the petitioner shall be added to the basic pay fixed for the petitioner when she moved into Selection Grade Lecturer.