Chhattisgarh High Court

Panchayat cadre service is ineligible for time-bound pay scale benefits applicable to regular government employees.

BHARAT LAL KASHYAP vs STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

Chhattisgarh High CourtJUDGMENT: April 09, 20262 MIN READSOURCE JUDGMENT
THE ORIGINAL LAWLENS SUMMARY
01

Facts

The thirty appellants were appointed as Shiksha Karmi Grade-III or Grade-II (Panchayat cadre) between 2008 and 2013

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 18 of WA 191/2026

They were later absorbed into the School Education Department of the State Government pursuant to a policy decision dated 30.06.2018

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 21 of WA 191/2026

The appellants sought the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman (time-bound pay scale) based on a State Government Circular dated 10.03.2017

Source reference: para. 4

Their writ petition (WPS No. 11009/2025) was dismissed by a Single Judge on 24.11.2025

Source reference: para. 3

The appellants challenged this dismissal, claiming parity with the decision in Smt. Sona Sahu v. State of Chhattisgarh (WA No. 261/2023)

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 28 of WA 191/2026
02

Issues

1. Whether employees originally appointed under the Panchayat Department (Shiksha Karmi) are entitled to the benefit of Kramonnati Vetanman under the Circular dated 10.03.2017 issued for State Government employees.

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 17 & 20 of WA 191/2026

2. Whether the services rendered by the appellants under the Panchayat Department prior to their absorption in 2018 can be counted for the purpose of granting time-bound pay scales applicable to regular Government servants.

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 22-23 of WA 191/2026
03

Law Applied

State Government Circular dated 10.03.2017, which regulates the grant of Kramonnati Vetanman to Assistant Teachers and Teachers specifically within the Government service

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 17 of WA 191/2026

Chhattisgarh Panchayat Shiksha Karmi (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2007, and the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993, which establish that Shiksha Karmis are distinct from State Government employees

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 22 of WA 191/2026

Absorption Order dated 30.06.2018, specifically Clauses 4 and 5, which restrict the calculation of benefits and arrears to the period beginning 01.07.2018

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 26 of WA 191/2026
04

Reasoning

The Court noted that the Circular dated 10.03.2017 explicitly applies to regular Government servants and does not extend to the Panchayat cadre or Shiksha Karmis

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 20 of WA 191/2026

The appellants were not State Government employees until their absorption on 01.07.2018; prior to this, their service conditions were governed by statutory frameworks applicable to Panchayat employees

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 21-22 of WA 191/2026

The Court distinguished the precedent of Smt. Sona Sahu, noting it was decided on "peculiar facts" involving different appointment dates and circulars not applicable here

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 24-25 of WA 191/2026

It was further observed that the absorption policy itself prohibits the claim of arrears or benefits for the period prior to 01.07.2018

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 26-27 of WA 191/2026

Consequently, since the appellants had not completed the requisite 10 years of service as Government employees, the claim for Kramonnati was legally unsustainable

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 29 of WA 191/2026
05

Holding

The High Court dismissed the writ appeal, affirming the Single Judge's order

The Court held that the facts and issues were identical to Writ Appeal No. 191/2026, decided on 13.03.2026, and thus no relief could be granted

Source reference: para. 6-7

The delay of 24 days in filing the appeal was condoned

Source reference: para. 2

The final holding clarified that Shiksha Karmis absorbed into the School Education Department cannot claim parity with regular Government teachers for the period of service rendered under the Panchayat Department

Source reference: para. 4, citing para. 29-30 of WA 191/2026
Chhattisgarh High Court

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BHARAT LAL KASHYAPvsSTATE OF CHHATTISGARH

Chhattisgarh High Court · April 09, 2026

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