MP government moves Supreme Court against High Court order on sixth pay scale arrears for 70,000 teachers

The Madhya Pradesh government has challenged an order of the Jabalpur High Court in the Supreme Court. The High Court had asked the state to pay sixth pay scale arrears to about 70,000 teachers. In its petition, the government has cited the state's financial position and sought relief from the financial burden of the arrears and the pay increase.

The High Court had directed that the teachers be given sixth pay scale arrears from 2006, meaning the arrears were to be counted from that year. Complying with the order is expected to put a heavy financial burden on the government.

In its petition in the Supreme Court, the government has said the state's economic condition is such that this additional expenditure cannot easily be borne. It has told the court that paying the teachers arrears from 2006 would cost about Rs 5,600 crore. In addition, the rise in salaries would mean an extra burden of about Rs 1,300 crore every year. On these grounds, the government has sought relief from the High Court order. The government's argument rests on the state's financial position.

This is not the first time the state government has approached the Supreme Court in the matter. Earlier, it had filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, which the court dismissed. The High Court then directed the government to act on the order within four weeks. If the order is not complied with, the government could face contempt proceedings. The government has now once again approached the Supreme Court.

There is another aspect to the same case. The Jabalpur High Court has asked the government to comply within four weeks with its order on counting teachers' service from the date of their first appointment. This could give about 70,000 teachers seniority, pay increases, pension and other benefits.