Rajasthan HC Grants Relief To Eligible Govt Lecturer Denied Selection Scale For Not Signing Application Form Despite Filling It Correctly
The Rajasthan High Court granted relief to a government lecturer who was denied grant of selection scale on the ground that he failed to affix his signatures on the application form that was submitted by him for the same.Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur in his order said:"Merely because, non-affixing his signatures on the application form cannot be a ground to deny benefit of grant of selection...
The Rajasthan High Court granted relief to a government lecturer who was denied grant of selection scale on the ground that he failed to affix his signatures on the application form that was submitted by him for the same.
Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur in his order said:
"Merely because, non-affixing his signatures on the application form cannot be a ground to deny benefit of grant of selection scale to the petitioner, if the details filled in the application form are correct and the petitioner is otherwise eligible for grant of selection scale".
The petitioner was working as a lecturer with the State's education department at the time of his superannuation from the post of Junior Agriculture Teacher. However, before the date of his superannuation, the petitioner faced disciplinary proceedings which ultimately culminated into punishment order of 18.05.2022 whereby his pension to the extent of 10% was deducted for a period of ten years
The petitioner's counsel said that while the petitioner was serving the respondent department, he was entitled for grant of selection scale, however, the same has been denied to him only on the ground that the application form filled in by the petitioner for grant of selection scale was not signed by him.
It was argued by the petitioner that the particulars filled in were correct, and the form was also submitted by him. Further, it was also forwarded by the competent authority with recommendation for granting him selection scale.
On the other hand, the State argued that before superannuation of the petitioner, he faced disciplinary proceedings resulting in punishment, and hence he was not entitled for the grant of selection scale.
After hearing the contentions, the Court observed that,
“Since, learned counsel for the respondents has failed to point out any ineligibility in grant of selection scale to the petitioner, this court is of the view that not affixing signatures by the petitioner on his application form for grant of selection scale cannot be the reason to deny selection scale to the petitioner.”
Furthermore, the Court opined that punishment granted to the petitioner could not be a ground for denying the selection scale to the petitioner when it became due since there were disciplinary proceedings against him at the relevant time.
Accordingly, the petition was allowed, and the State was directed to grant selection scale to the petitioner from the date it became due.
Title: Satyaveer Singh v the State of Rajasthan & Ors.
Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Raj) 156