Speaking Order – Shortfall Increment to SSTs on Reappointment
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Shortfall Increment
FD.PR.21-16/06. WHEREAS M/s Muhammad Yar Multan, M.A. (Islamic Studies), Abdul Hameed, M.A. (Islamic Studies) and Muhammad Nasrullah Bhatti, M.A. (English), SSTs, Govt. Higher Secondary School, Darya Khan, Bhakkar, Zulfiqar Hussain Khan, M.A. (History), SST, Govt. High School, Jafar Kala, Bhakkar, Mahmood Ahmed, M.A. (Economics), Moen-ud-Din, M.A. (Political Science) and Aman Ullah, M.A. (Punjabi), SSTs, Govt. High School, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Ghulam Yasin, M.A. (Political Science), SST, Govt. High School, Kalorkot, Bhakkar, Muhammad Zafar Ullah Khan, M.A. (Political Science), SST, Govt. High School, Sial, Bhakkar, Pervaiz Iqbal, M.A., SST, Govt. High School, Mabel, Bhakkar, Muhammad Ameer Khan, M.A. (Political Science), SST, Govt. Elementary School, 61/DB, Bhakkar, Ahmed Hussain Khan, M.A., SST, Govt. Elementary School, Rakh Mehola Khasara, Bhakkar, Madam Hussain, M.A. (History), SST, Govt. High School, Abisanwala, Bhakkar, Riaz Hussain, M.A., SST, Govt. Elementary School Gadal, Bhakkar, Daud Qadir, M.A. (Political Science), SST, Govt. Elementary School, 175/TDA, Bhakkar, Muhammad Akbar Aziz, M.A., SST, MC High School, District Bhakkar, Muhammad Aslam, M.A. (Political Science), SST, Govt. Higher Secondary School, Jandianwala, Bhakkar, Abdul Aziz, M.A. (History), SST, Govt. High School, Hassanwala, Bhakkar, Muhammad Latool, M.A. (History), SST, Govt. Model High School, Bhakkar, Ijaz Husain, M.A. (History) SST, Govt. Elementary School, Basti Ahmad Shah Wali, Bhakkar, and Mst. Ruh Afza, M.A. (Journalism), SST, Govt. Elementary School, Yousaf Shah, Bhakkar, being aggrieved with the instructions issued by the Finance Department vide memo dated 7.3.2005 in compliance with the order of Ombudsman Punjab in complaint No. 2067/75/05/Adv-I-8/2005 filed by Mst. Yasmin Kausar, SST, Govt. Girls Model High School, Satellite Town, Gujranwala for discontinuation of drawal of two so-called shortfall advance increments, filed writ petition bearing No. 6292 of 2006 in the Lahore High Court, Lahore for protection of the same.
- WHEREAS the petitioners, in pursuance of the judgement of Lahore High Court, Lahore in said writ petition, were afforded an opportunity of personal hearing by the Hon’ble Finance Secretary on 12.7.2007 in his Office Chamber.
- WHEREAS the petitioners as reported by the District Accounts Officer concerned were in receipt of two shortfall advance increments in terms of para 15 of Revision of Pay Scales, 1983 for Master’s degrees acquired by them in the capacity of SST; whereas they too have availed one advance increment in terms of the same para of the Rules ibid for the same qualification prior to their appointment as SSTs.
- WHEREAS the petitioners are not entitled to the two so-called shortfall increments as the proviso below Para 15 of Rules ibid clearly stated that a Primary, Middle, or High School teacher, as the case may be, who has already drawn increments for possessing higher educational qualifications shall be allowed increments equal to shortfall in the number of increments, if any, between the increments drawn by him and the increments which have now been prescribed. That means the difference in the number of advance increments for a qualification drawn prior to Revision of Pay Scales, 1983 and those now prescribed in the Revision of Pay Scales, 1983 for the same qualification will be in the same cadre. Otherwise, it will be tantamount to double benefit which is nowhere allowed.
- WHEREAS the Lahore High Court, Lahore, in writ petition No.14664/1999 dated 21.4.2000, has declared that all Master’s degrees are equal; hence no Master’s degree is over and above the M.A. Education or M.Ed.
- WHEREAS the SSTs are not entitled to any advance increments either for M.A./M.Sc. or for M.A. (Education)/M.Ed. w.e.f. 8.1.1987 (the date when M.A. (Education) was declared as one of the prescribed qualifications). Moreover, the post of SST was upgraded from BS-15 to BS-16 vide notification No.SO(CONFD)S-1-13/90 dated 26.6.1990 on the basis of prescribed qualification for the said post and the facility of advance increments was discontinued vide Para 2 of the said notification; hence no question of shortfall advance increments.
- WHEREAS the “findings” of Ombudsman referred to herein are self-explanatory and have been implemented in letter and spirit by issuing instructions to all the District Accounts Officers, being in line with the policy of the Government of the Punjab and was passed in order to save the Government from huge financial loss being wrongfully caused due to draw of the increments which are not permissible otherwise; and
- NOW THEREFORE, I, SOHAIL AHMAD, Secretary to Government of the Punjab, Finance Department, keeping in view the above clarifications of rules, policy of the Finance Department, Government of the Punjab, and the Provincial Law Department through its findings in the complaint under review as above, hereby dispose of the representation in light of the facts and observations that they are not entitled to the so-called shortfall increments.
