JBT teachers to get master,s grade

JBT teachers to get master,s grade

Nearly 17 years after Haryana JBT teachers claimed masters grade on the basis of acquiring higher qualification more than two decades ago, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has accepted their prayer.They will not only get master,s grade after the order, but monetary benefits as well from the date of acquiring higher qualifications. The petition is just one of two lakhs cases pendind in the high court.Attribute it to the shortage of judges or filling of frivolous petitions, the fast remains that justice comes, but often after decades.The high court as of now,has a shortage of 21 judges it has47 judges compared to the sanctioned strength of 68.The judgement by Justice K.Kannan came on a petition filed in 1996 by Prem chand and others against the state of Haryana and another respondent.In  their petitions, Prem chand and others had raised the issue of granting master’s grade to candidates appointed jbt trs, who acquired higher qualifications before march 9. 1990 the date when fresh instructions were issued by the haryana government.As the matter came up for resumed hearing before justice Kannan the state of Haryana relied on a Punjab and Haryana high court division bench ruling.Pronounced in January 1994 a similar claim by thr petitions was rejected by the bench.But justice Kannan observed that the point raised in the writ petition was sequarely covered by the Supreme Court decision in the case of Wazir Singh v/s state of Haryana, which was subsequently followed by another division bench of the high court.

In view of the law laid down by the supreme court rendered subsequently and followed by yet another division bench of this court, there is no room for fresh consideration to deny the petitioners claim.The writ petition is allowed.The petitioners will be entiteled to the claim to the master’s grade from the respective dates when they acquired higher qualifications.The monetarybenefits shall be calculated and released to them within a period of 12 weeks with interest at 6 percent per annum, Justice Kannan concluded.