Panchayat cadre employees lack entitlement to time-bound pay scales applicable exclusively to regular State Government servants.

The appellants were originally appointed as Shiksha Karmis (Grade-III/Grade-II) under the Panchayat Department between 1998 and 2008.

They remained employees of the Panchayat cadre until their absorption into the School Education Department of the State of Chhattisgarh on 01.07.2018.

The appellants sought the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman (time-bound pay scale) as per the State Government Circular dated 10.03.2017.

A Single Judge dismissed their writ petition (WPS No.11009/2025) on 24.11.2025, leading to this intra-court appeal.

1. Whether the employees of the Panchayat Cadre (Shiksha Karmis) are entitled to the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman under the Circular dated 10.03.2017 issued for regular Government Teachers.

2. Whether the services rendered under the Panchayat Department prior to absorption can be treated as equivalent to Government service for the purpose of time-bound pay scales.

State Government Circular dated 10.03.2017, which mandates first and second Kramonnati pay scales for Assistant Teachers after 10 and 20 years of service respectively.

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

The principle from State of Punjab v. Jagjit Singh (2017) regarding parity and the restrictive Clauses 4 and 5 of the Absorption Order dated 30.06.2018, which prohibit arrears and retrospective benefits prior to the date of absorption.

The Court reasoned that the Circular dated 10.03.2017 applies exclusively to regular Government employees and not to the Panchayat cadre.

Since the appellants were not employees of the State Government until their absorption in 2018, they were governed by statutory frameworks applicable to Panchayats, not State School Education Department rules.

The Court distinguished the precedent of Smt. Sona Sahu (WA No. 261/2023), noting that the relief in that case was granted under "peculiar facts" and did not establish a general right for all absorbed teachers to claim parity.

The Court highlighted that the absorption policy specifically restricts any claims for financial arrears or benefits for the period prior to 01.07.2018.

After condoning a 67-day delay in filing, the Division Bench dismissed the writ appeal, affirming the Single Judge's order and following the precedent set in Writ Appeal No.193/2026.