Authorities must consider eligible time-bound increment claims and consequential pension refixation under applicable government orders.

The petitioner was appointed as a Lecturer in 1986 and served in a single post until his retirement as Principal on 31 May 2022.

He had received time-bound increments up to 15 years of service, but claimed further time-bound increments for 20, 25 and 30 years, regular annual increments from 2017 until retirement, and consequential re-fixation of salary and pension.

His promotion to Principal had been delayed amid disputes between the institution’s managements, though the proposal was approved in 2022.

In earlier proceedings, the High Court directed the authorities to process the promotion proposal; during contempt proceedings, the petitioner’s pension papers were settled.

He then sought consideration of his representations dated 8 May and 19 August 2024 for the remaining benefits.

1. Whether the petitioner was entitled, subject to eligibility under the applicable Government Orders, to time-bound additional increments for 20, 25 and 30 years of service

2. Whether the petitioner’s claim to regular annual increments from 2017, and consequential re-fixation of salary and pension with arrears, required consideration by the respondents

The Court referred to the Government Order dated 21 June 1997, No. ED 243 TPU 94, and the Government Order dated 14 June 2012, No. FD 12 SRP 2012 (VIII), as the basis for considering the claimed time-bound increments.

It directed that eligibility for those increments and for regular annual increments be assessed in accordance with law.

The judgment cites no statutory provision or judicial precedent as the substantive basis for entitlement.

The Court noted that the petitioner had served from 1986 to 2022, had completed 15 years of service by 2001 and had received time-bound benefits only up to that point.

It also recorded that he continued in the same post for 36 years and that his promotion had been delayed because of litigation between the managements.

In light of his service history, the Court directed the management to forward a proposal for the claimed 20-, 25- and 30-year increments under the cited Government Orders.

It separately directed consideration of the petitioner’s representations concerning annual increments from 2017 and any resulting salary and pension re-fixation, subject to legal entitlement.

Any salary and pension re-fixation and consequential arrears are to follow only if the petitioner is found entitled in law.

The Court set an overall limit of eight weeks for completing the process, specifying that the proposal be sent within three weeks and the Government consider it within the following five weeks.

The matter was listed for reporting compliance on 7 December 2026.