S S NEELAKANTAN Vs. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT; DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND THE REGIONAL JOINT DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, MADURAI REGION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has challenged the Government Letter dated 22.12.1993, wherein, the request of the petitioner for pay scale and advancement to Special Grade was rejected and sought a direction to the respondents to confer Special Grade in the Cadre of Livestock Inspector Grade I, with effect from 01.04.1987 as per G.O. Ms. No. 281, Finance (Pay Cell) Department, dated 02.04.1987 and pay ail the arrears of monetary benefits for the period from 06.10.1986 to 01.01.1989, with interest at the rate of 18% per annum.

(2.) Brief facts leading to the Writ Petition are as follows:

(3.) According to the petitioner, the Government in G.O. Ms. No. 281, Finance (Pay Cell) Department, dated 02.04.1987, directed that an employee, who has not completed 10 years of service in the selection grade, is entitled to be advanced to Special Grade, provided he has completed 20 years of total service in the same post. The petitioner has completed 20 years of service as livestock Inspector Grade I on 06.10.1986 and therefore, he should have been advanced to Special Grade on completion of 20 years of service. The petitioner has further submitted that though he was conferred with Special Grade by the proceedings of the Regional Joint Director of Animal Husbandry, Madurai in Roc. No. 22421/B2/90, dated 10.01.1991, due to punishment of stoppage of increment without cumulative effect which was imposed on 01.10.1987 and considering the fact that the punishment came to an end only on 31.03.1988 and as per Government Letter No. 57502/90-1, P & AR (Per.S) Department, dated 21.10.1990, he was advanced to Special Grade only with effect from 01.01.1989.