NON­REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA           CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO(s).11934 OF 2018    (Arising out of SLP(C ) No(s). 28527 of 2016)       

KU. BHAWANA            …..Appellant(s)

VERSUS

STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS.             …….Respondent(s)

J U D G M E N T

Rastogi, J.

1. The dispute in this appeal pertains to the inter se seniority

of the appellant vis­a­vis 5th  respondent, who were appointed as

Assistant  Teacher in  Secondary  School and their services are

governed by the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools

(Conditions of Service) Rules, 1981 (hereinafter being referred to

as “Rules 1981”).

2. The brief facts that culled out in a nut shell are that the

appellant  was  appointed  as  Rest. (untrained)  Teacher in  High

School,  Smt.  Sindhutai  Poreddiwar,  Gogaon,  Distt.  Gadchiroli,

with effect from 15th July, 1994 vide order of appointment dated

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27th  June,  1994.  Her appointment  was  purely on temporary

basis for a period from 15th July, 1994 to 7th May, 1995 on the

terms & conditions as laid down in Maharashtra Employees of

Private Schools (Conditions of Service) Regulation Act, 1977 and

the Rules of 1981 framed thereunder.   She qualified her B.Ed

examination and became a trained teacher on 19th  September,

1997. At the same time, the impleaded 5th  respondent was

appointed as trained Assistant Teacher vide order of appointment

dated 13th  August, 1997.   On the date of appointment, he was

holder of the qualification of B.A., B.Ed. and  was a trained

teacher under the Scheme of Rules, 1981.  At one point of time,

the appellant  was  placed senior to the 5th  respondent in the

category of Assistant Teacher that gave a cause of grievance to

the 5th respondent. If there is any grievance to the teaching/non­

teaching staff in reference to inter se seniority, such dispute has

to  be  adjudicated by the  Education Officer  as  provided under

Rule 12(3) of the Scheme of Rules, 1981.  

3. The Competent Authority adverted to the rival claims of the

parties and observed in its order dated 31st March, 2003 holding

that the 5th respondent was appointed on 13th August, 1997 as a

trained teacher holding the qualification of B.A. B.Ed. and at the

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time of entry into service, he was in category table ‘C’.   At the

same time,  the appellant although was appointed as Assistant

Teacher (untrained)  with effect from  15th  July, 1994 but she

qualified her B.Ed on 19th September, 1997 and became member

of category table ‘C’ only on acquiring qualification of B.Ed. and

accordingly  the 5th Respondent became senior to the appellant in

category ‘C’ to Schedule ‘F’ annexed to Rule 12 of Rules, 1981.  It

was upheld  by  the High Court  under the impugned  judgment

which is a subject matter before us.

4. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that practically

inter se seniority is not an issue in the present matter although

raised before the High Court but her grievance primarily is

regarding salary escalation which is extended to the graduates as

defined in Rule 2(j) annexed to Schedule ‘B’ to the Rules, 1981.

Learned counsel further submits that the 5th respondent being a

temporary teacher cannot claim seniority until stood confirmed

and seniority could not have been claimed by him over the

appellant before becoming member of the Rules, 1981.   Learned

counsel further submits that under the scheme of Rules,

seniority is determined on the basis of longer officiation of service

in the cadre,  her  later acquiring the qualification of  B.Ed and

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become a trained  Assistant  Teacher  would  not take  away  her

right of seniority envisaged under Rule 12 of Rules, 1981.

5. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent, on the other

hand, submits that 5th  respondent was initially appointed as a

trained teacher and the appellant acquired the B.Ed.

qualification later and became a member of Category ‘C’ of

Schedule ‘F’ annexed to Rule 12 and this fact has been noticed

by the competent authority while determining the  inter se

seniority of the appellant vis­a­vis the 5th  respondent and

confirmed by the High Court on dismissal of the writ petition and

needs no further interference.  

6. We heard the learned counsel for the parties and with their

assistance perused the materials on record.  

7. Before adverting to the question raised for consideration, it

will be apposite to take a glance of the scheme of Rules, 1981.

8. The Rules of 1981 has been framed in exercise of the

powers conferred by sub­sections (1) and (2) of Section 16 of the

Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools (Conditions of Service)

Regulation Act, 1977.   Rule 2(j) defines “trained graduate” and

2(k)  defines “trained teacher”  and qualification of the  teachers

has been prescribed under Rule 6 read with Schedule ‘B’ and the

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appointment of teaching staff is made in terms of the procedure

prescribed  under Rule 9 and their seniority is being determined

in terms of Rule 12 read with the guidelines laid down in

schedule ‘F’ annexed to the scheme of Rules, 1981.  The dispute

in reference to  inter se  seniority is to be resolved by the

Education Officer as referred to under Rule 12(3) of Rules, 1981.

The extract with reference to rules alongwith Schedule ‘F’

annexed to Rule 12 of the Rules, 1981 relevant for the purpose is

reproduced as under:­

“12. Seniority List. ­ Every  Management shall prepare and maintain seniority list of the teaching staff including Head Master and Assistant Head Master and non­teaching staff in the School in accordance with the guidelines laid down in Schedule "F". The seniority list so prepared shall be circulated amongst the  members of the staff concerned  and their signatures for having received a copy of the list shall be obtained. Any subsequent change made in the seniority list from time to time shall also be brought to the notice of the members of the staff concerned and their signatures for having  noted the change shall be obtained.

(2)  Objections,  if  any,  to  the seniority  list  or to  the changes therein shall be duly taken into consideration by the Management.

(3) Disputes, if any, in the matter of inter se seniority shall be referred to the Education Officer for his decision.

   Schedule 'F'

1.  Guidelines for fixation of seniority of teachers in the primary schools. ­ The seniority of primary school teachers in

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Primary Schools shall be based on the date of joining service and continuous officiation.

2.  Guidelines for fixation of seniority of teachers in the secondary schools Junior Colleges of Education and Junior College  classes  attached  to  secondary  schools  and Senior Colleges. ­ For the purpose of fixation of seniority of teachers in the secondary schools. Junior Colleges of Education and Junior College classes attached to Secondary Schools the teachers should be categorised as follows :

Category A : Heads of Secondary schools having an enrolment of students above 500 and Principals of Junior Colleges of Education having more than four Divisions on the basis of the dates of their appointments to the respective posts.

Category B : Heads of secondary schools having an enrolment of students of 500 and below, Principals of Junior Colleges of Education having four or less Divisions and Assistant Heads of Secondary schools having more than 20 classes on the basis of the dates of their appointments to the respective posts.

Category C : Holders of ­

M. A. /M. Sc./M. Com., B.T./B. Ed., or its equivalent; or

B. A./B. Sc./B. Com., B. T./B. Ed., or its equivalent; or

B. A./B. Sc./B. Com. Dip. T. (old two years course); or

[B.  A./B.  Sc./B.  Com.,  S. T.  C. /Dip.  Ed./Dip. T. (one year course) with 10 years post­S. T. C. etc. service.

[B. A. or its equivalent plus Senior Hindi Shikshak Sanad with five years service; or Junior Hindi Shikshak with ten years service [after obtaining both academic and training qualifications.]]

Category D : Holders of­

B. A., B. Sc./B.Com./S. T. C./Dip. Ed. (one year course) [Senior or Junior Hindi Shikshak Sanad] or its equivalent.

[Explanation. ­ On and after the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette and without affecting the promotion made until that date, the inter se seniority of teachers with qualification Senior Hindi Shikshak Sanad or Junior Hindi Shikshak Sanad in service should be fixed in Category ‘C' with

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reference to the date of their acquiring both the qualifications i.e. B.A. or its equivalent and the Senior (5 years) or Junior Hindi Shikshak Sanad (10 years) as the case may be by the teachers concerned.]

Category E : Holders of ­

S. S. C., S. T. C./Dip. Ed./Dip. T. (one year course) [Senior or Junior Hindi Shikshak Sanad] or its equivalent.

Category F : Untrained Graduates or holders of equivalent qualification.

Category G  : Untrained  Matriculates  or  holders  of equivalent qualification.

Category H : All teachers other than those mentioned in categories A to G.

Note 1 : For the purpose of categories C, D, and E teachers with S. T. C., T. D., Jr. P. T. C. Dip, T., Dip. Ed. (post S.S.C. one year course)  qualifications appointed on or  after  1st  October  1970 shall  be  considered as  untrained  and  their  seniority  shall  be fixed in the 'F' or 'G' category of untrained teachers as the case may be.

Note 2 : The following training qualifications which can be secured two years after S.S.C. Examination shall be considered as training qualification for the purpose of seniority even after 1st October 1970 ­

(1) D. Ed. (2 years).

(2) T. D. (Bombay University).

(3) Dip. Ed. (Nagpur University).

Note 3 : In the case of teachers whose date of continuous appointment in one and the same category is common, the teacher who is senior by age will be treated as senior.

Note 4 : The categories mentioned above represent the ladder of seniority and have been mentioned in descending order.

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Note 5 : Where a management runs more than one school and where Junior College classes are or are not attached to any one or more of such schools, the seniority list for a particular cadre shall be a combined seniority  list of all persons in that cadre working in all the schools (excluding night schools, if any), or Junior College classes attached to schools of the Management. The total continuous service rendered by the persons in a particular cadre in any school or Junior College class shall be taken into consideration for the purpose of seniority and for the purpose of promotion.

Note 6 : The seniority of the (coaching staff in night school shall be maintained separately.

Note 7 : Where one of schools is a Girls' school and where the Management desires to  maintain a separate seniority list of teachers in that school, the management shall resolve accordingly and forward a copy of the resolution to the Education Officer or, as the case may be, the Deputy Director of Education. Such a decision shall not, however, be revocable at any time in future. Further, where the Management decides to do so the candidates to be appointed to the teaching posts shall be given a clear understanding to the effect that they shall not have any claim on the promotional posts in other schools run by the same  Management. The services of the  members of the teaching staff in such a school shall not be permanently transferable to any other school and vice versa. The temporary transfer of services of the members of the teaching staff in such a school shall also be with the prior permission of the Education Officer or, as the case may be, the Deputy Director of Education.

Note  8 : Where a  Management runs one or  more secondary schools and a Junior College of Education, then notwithstanding the fact that trained graduate teachers in Junior College of Education are in a higher scale of pay, a combined seniority list of all teachers, in both the types of Institutions shall be maintained in such schools and Junior College of Education in accordance with the guidelines laid down in paragraph 2 of this schedule. This seniority list shall form the basis for purpose of promotion to the  posts of  Head  Masters and  Assistant  Head Masters in secondary school (s) and Principal (s) of Junior College of Education.

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Note 9 : In the case of permanent teachers having a break or breaks in service (physical or otherwise i.e. owing to part­time service interposed) between two spans of full­time service under the same management, after being made permanent but prior to the 1st  July 1970 and who may not  have changed the cadre after the  period of  break, the Management  shall  condone  the break (s) for period(s) not exceeding three years for the purpose of seniority by commuting retrospectively the period of absence. If the period exceeds three years and if the teachers had worked on part­time basis, the Management  shall  also give credit for Period (s) of part time service to the  extent of  half the total period, for the  purpose of seniority only.  Each type of such breaks shall not exceed three in number during the career of a teacher and seniority so gained shall not entitle the teacher for retrospective promotion.

Note 10 : The seniority of secondary school teachers in Vidarbha Region who were permanent on the 31st December 1965 and whose seniority was determined as per the provisions contained in the Madhya Pradesh Secondary Education Act, 1951 and the rules made thereunder  shall  not  be disturbed. If  any teacher among such teachers,  improves his qualifications and thereby switches over to  higher  category, these guidelines of  seniority shall apply so far as the determination of his seniority  in the higher category is concerned.”

9. The Scheme of the Rules, 1981 of which reference has been

made clearly envisages that the teaching staff holding

qualification mentioned in Sub­section (i)  to (iv) of Clause 1 of

Item II in Schedule ‘B’ are considered trained teachers and the

seniority of teachers in primary Schools and teachers in the

Secondary Schools, Junior College of Education and Junior

College attached to Secondary Schools are being determined in

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terms of the guidelines laid down for fixation of seniority of

teachers in Schedule ‘F’ annexed to Rule 12 of Rules, 1981.   As

regards fixation of seniority in the primary school is concerned, it

is based on the date of joining service and continuance

officiation.   At the same time, fixation of seniority in the

secondary schools, junior colleges of education and junior college

classes attached to secondary schools and senior colleges, it has

been graded into separate categories commencing from A­H, and

as regards category ‘A and  B’ are concerned, the seniority is

determined on the basis of the date of appointment to the

respective posts and those who are holders of various

qualifications falling in categories C to H, their seniority is

determined on the basis of total service rendered by the person in

a particular cadre in school or junior college of education for the

purpose of seniority and for promotion as indicated under Note 5,

the rule  making authority was conscious of this fact giving

preference in descending order to the holders of category ‘C, D, E

or F’, as the case may be, as indicated in Note 4.   As a

consequence thereof, a person who is a member of category ‘F’ or

‘G’, as the case may be, would in no manner can rank senior to

the teaching staff who is member of category ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘E’ based

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on their continuous service rendered in the category to which the

person belongs.

10. Indisputedly, the 5th  respondent was holding the

qualification of B.A. B.Ed. at the time of his initial appointment

dated 13th  August, 1997 and became a member of category ‘C’.

At the same time, the appellant though appointed on 27th June,

1994 as an untrained teacher, having acquired the training

qualification                   i.e. B.Ed. on 19 th September, 1997 and

became a member of category ‘C’ after entry of the 5th respondent

into service as a trained teacher, could not have claimed seniority

in category ‘C’ over the 5th  respondent prior to acquiring

professional qualification(B.Ed) as envisaged under the Scheme

of Rules, 1981 as trained teacher and this what was considered

by the authority who examined the  inter se  seniority of the

appellant vis­a­vis  5th  respondent  under the  Rules, 1981  and

confirmed by  the High Court  on dismissal  of the  writ  petition

preferred by the appellant.

11. The submission of the appellant regarding salary escalation

to trained graduates against 25% quota was neither raised before

the competent authority nor before the High Court.  It may not be

advisable for us to examine at this stage and leave it to authority

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competent  if  raised to examine  it independently  in accordance

with law.

12. Further submission made by the appellant in reference to

nature  of  appointment  as  a trained/untrained teacher for the

purpose of the determination of  inter se  seniority being

insignificant is without substance for the reason that

appointments are made of the teaching staff strictly in terms of

rule 9 of the Rules, 1981 and their seniority is determined under

Rule 12 read with the guidelines annexed to Schedule ‘F’ to the

Rules, which envisages total continuous service rendered by the

person in that particular cadre in any school or college, as the

case  may be,  which  may be a relevant consideration for the

purpose of seniority and for promotion and later confirmation or

becoming permanent in the cadre of teaching staff may not be the

decisive factor for the purposes of determination of seniority of

the teaching staff in the cadre under the scheme of Rules, 1981.

13. Indisputedly, in the instant case, the appellant was entered

into service as an untrained teacher falling in category ‘F’ and the

5th respondent was a trained teacher falling in category ‘C’ at the

time of  entry into  service  and the appellant  became a  trained

teacher on qualifying  B.Ed examination after entry of the 5th

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respondent into service on 19th  September, 1997.   The 5th

respondent was a member of category ‘C’ at the very inception of

appointment and the appellant became a member of category ‘C’

later on acquiring the B.Ed. qualification which indisputedly she

acquired after entry of the 5th respondent into service.  As such,

she could not have claimed seniority over the 5th  respondent in

category ‘C’ of Schedule F annexed to Rule 12 of Rules, 1981, this

what has been  held by the  High  Court under the impugned

judgment.  

14. We, therefore, find  no substance in this  appeal and the

same is accordingly dismissed.

……………………………..J. (ASHOK BHUSHAN)

……………………………..J. (AJAY RASTOGI)

NEW DELHI January 04, 2019.

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