Panchayat cadre employees are ineligible for time-bound pay scales under circulars applicable only to regular government servants.

The appellants were initially appointed as Shiksha Karmi Grade-III or Grade-II under various Janpad and Zila Panchayats between the years 1998 and 2008

On 01.07.2018, the State Government implemented a policy to absorb such Panchayat cadre employees into the School Education Department

The appellants filed a writ petition (WPS No. 10203/2025) seeking the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman (time-bound pay scale) based on a Government Circular dated 10.03.2017, which provides pay upgrades after 10 and 20 years of service

A Single Judge of the High Court dismissed the petition on 24.11.2025

The appellants challenged this dismissal via the present writ appeal, which was filed with a delay of 20 days

1. Whether employees appointed under the Panchayat Cadre are entitled to the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman under the Circular dated 10.03.2017 prior to their absorption into the State Government

2. Whether the service rendered by the appellants as Shiksha Karmi in the Panchayat Department can be treated as equivalent to Government service for the purpose of time-bound pay scales

3. Whether the appellants are entitled to parity with the judgment in Smt. Sona Sahu (Writ Appeal No. 261/2023)

Circular dated 10.03.2017 issued by the General Administration Department, which governs the grant of Kramonnati Vetanman specifically to Assistant Teachers in Government service

Chhattisgarh Panchayat Shiksha Karmi (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules (2007 and 2012), which distinguish Panchayat employees from State Government servants

Arrears Restriction Clause in the absorption order dated 30.06.2018, which stipulates that all financial benefits for absorbed employees shall only be calculated from the date of absorption (01.07.2018) and no past arrears shall be payable

The Court reasoned that the Circular dated 10.03.2017 applies strictly to regular Government servants and does not extend to the Panchayat cadre, including Shiksha Karmis.

The appellants were employees of the Panchayat Department governed by separate statutory rules under the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993, and did not acquire the status of Government servants until 01.07.2018.

Consequently, their service prior to 2018 cannot be counted for benefits intended for Government teachers.

The Court distinguished the case of Smt. Sona Sahu, noting it was decided on "peculiar facts" involving specific prior orders that did not apply to the current appellants.

Relying on the precedent set in Writ Appeal No. 193/2026, the Court concluded that the absorption policy explicitly prohibits claiming any benefits or arrears for the period preceding 01.07.2018.

on merits, it held that the appellants are not entitled to the benefit of the Circular dated 10.03.2017 for their period of service under the Panchayat Department.

The High Court dismissed the writ appeal, affirming the order of the learned Single Judge and adopting the reasoning of the coordinate bench in Writ Appeal No. 193/2026.