RABINDRA NATH MONDAL Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this writ petition, the petitioner in effect, asked for an order upon two respondent authorities to absorb him by issuing appointment letter forthwith pursuant to G.O. No. 130(60) L.W. dated 25th January, 1978 along with other incidental prayers. Service of the petitioner's father was extended by the Chairman, Adhoc Committee, Birbhum District, Primary School Council under memorandum No. 480(28) dated 19th March, 1992. The petitioner was interviewed under the letter of such authority dated 21st March, 1992. According to the petitioner, his father made several representations before the concerned authority under G.O. of the Labour Department No. 196(60) EMP dated 19th June, 1978 for his illness. However, ultimately, his father died before his retirement. Although the date of the superannuation of his father was 13th October, 1991 but he was bed-ridden on and from October, 1991 and considering his representation the interview, as aforesaid, was held. Therefore, he was entitled for absorption in the service.

(2.) The petitioner further contended that the petitioner's case is supported by an unreported judgment of this Court in C.O. No. 9628(W) of 1993 (Subrata Sekhar Samanta v. State of West Bengal & Ors.) wherein the service of the petitioner therein on compassionate ground was refused because his father died in harness within the extended period of service since the father of the incumbent submitted his option and received salary in terms of ROPA-1990. However, upon acceptance of undertaking to refused the excess amount the petitioner's service was directed to be regularised. In any event the present case was not covered by ROPA-1990 but by ROPA-1981 as available from the annexure 'A' to the writ petition. From circular No. 372-Edn. (B) dated 31st July, 1981 it appears that those who were in service on 31st July, 1981 will have the option either to retain their existing scale of pay and existing terms and conditions of service or to come under the revised scale of pay to come with revised terms and conditions of service as may be determined by the State Government. The option will have to be exercised within 90 days from the date of issue of this order and they may come under the revised scales and revised terms and conditions of service of this order not later than April, 1982. The teachers in all governmental aided educational institutions opting for the revised scale of pay shall retire at 60 years provided that who were above 54 years but below 57 years of age on April, 1981 shall retire on completion of 62 years of age or on 31st March, 1989 whichever is earlier and for such teachers who were above 57 years of age on 1st April, 1981 retirement will be on completion of 65 years or on 31st March, 1987 whichever is earlier. Under memorandum No. 768-Edn. (P) dated 22nd November, 1991 recruitment and leave rules of teachers in Primary Schools of West Bengal was given effect and duly published in Calcutta Gazette on 25th November, 1981. Under 2(P) of such rule 'superannuation' means superannuation of a primary school teacher on completion of 60 years of his age. Rule 14 says that the council may appoint primary teachers with the approval of the Director on compassionate ground on certain conditions which are given therein. The conditions under Rule 14 are that the teacher dies in harness before the date of his superannuation leaving a family which, in the opinion of the council, shall be in extreme economic hardship etc. and other is a teacher who is declared permanently in capacited and prematurely retired about 2 years before his age of superannuation and the family is in extreme economic hardship etc. In such cases, a compassionate consideration can be made and an incumbent may be appointed on such ground. In any event, as per such rule the age of superannuation is 60 years and there is no scope of extension of service so that the case of the incumbent can be considered accordingly.

(3.) It appears from the affidavit of the respondent's council that in terms of Government order No. 33-Edn. (B) dated 7th March, 1990 the father of the petitioner exercised his option for coming into revised scale of pay with protest. Accordingly, prayer of the teacher concerned for extension of service, in terms of the Government order No. 323-Edn. (P) dated 3rd September, 1990 was granted by the council upto 31st August, 1991. After the expiry of the extension period of service, the teacher concerned worked upto 12th December, 1991 without any approval from the appropriate authority and accordingly, such period of service was not duly accorded by the council. The teacher concerned died on 13th December, 1991 after superannuation from service on attaining the age of 60 years with effect from 30th September, 1990. Although the interview was taken and the name of the petitioner was forwarded to the concerned Director of School Education under memorandum dated 17th December, 1992 being annexure 'A' to the writ petition, approval of appointment of the petitioner was not considered since the teacher died after completion of 60 years of age and opted for ROPA-1990 with protest.