IQBAL SINGH DHILLON Vs. PANJAB UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner after having taught as a Lecturer in English, was selected as Director, Youth Welfare in the Panjab University in the year 1978. During his service tenure, he improved upon his qualification to acquire a Doctorate Degree. The rules of Panjab university as contained in the Calendar Volume-III contemplate grant of increments for all categories of employees in the eventuality of their improving upon their qualification. For the purpose of reference, the relevant rule is extracted here below:-

(2.) In the reply, it has been stated that the benefit of additional increments was admissible only to non-teaching technical categories and the petitioner who belongs to the non-teaching non-technical Class-A posts having a higher pay-scale of Rs. 3700-5000, is not entitled to the said benefit.

(3.) Having considered the matter, I am of the view that stand of the University has to be negated. The rule extracted above does not reflect the benefit of increments to non-teaching non-technical Class-A posts as has been pleaded by the respondents. Rather, it talks of admissibility of such a benefit not only to ministerial staff but to all categories of non-teaching staff and such other employees as the Syndicate may approve. There is no distinction such as the one sought to be introduced by the respondents regarding any post being non-technical and the benefit being restricted to other categories of employees than the Class-A posts. The petitioner's case would squarely fall within all categories of non-teaching staff and thus entitled to increments for higher qualification.