1 2026:CGHC:7636 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 2337 of 2023 1 - Ms. Sandeepa Dewangan, D/o. Shri Maniram Dewangan, Aged About 41 Years Assistant Engineer, O/o Ed (Sldc), Csptcl, Danganiya Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Company Limited C/8-11 (First Floor), Danganiya Raipur Chhattisgarh 2 - Executive Director/chief Engineer (Hr), Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Company Limited, Danganiya, Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Respondents (Cause-title taken from the Case Information System) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Petitioner :- Mrs. Ruchi Nagar, Advocate For Respondents :- Mr. Raja Sharma, Advocate ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SB- Hon'ble Shri Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order On Board 11.02.2026 1. The petitioner has preferred the present writ petition against the 2 arbitrary and illegal inaction of the respondent authorities in failing to grant two advance pay-scale increments to the petitioner on her acquiring a Post-Graduate Degree, i.e., M.E. in E&TC (Communication), from Shri Shankaracharya College of Engineering and Technology, Bhilai, as admissible under the applicable service rules, which benefit has been unjustly, arbitrarily, and discriminatorily denied to her. 2. The petitioner in the present writ petition has prayed for following reliefs:- “10.1) To direct the respondent authorities to grant two advance increment in pay-scale on obtaining PG Degree in Engineering as per the service rules. 10.2) To direct the respondents to also give arrears of salary from the date of eligibility of advance increment on account of obtaining PG Degree in Engineering. 10.3) Any other relief which this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper may also kindly be granted to the petitioner, in the interest of justice.” 3. Facts of the case are that the petitioner is presently working on the post of Assistant Engineer in the office of Executive Director, CSPTCL, Danganiya, Raipur (C.G.), having been initially appointed as Junior Engineer under the OBC category by order dated 28.04.2008 of the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board and posted at MRT Division-I, Raipur by order dated 30.04.2008, and subsequently absorbed under the C.S. Power Companies by order dated 26.06.2009, her service being governed by the Service Regulations framed by the Chhattisgarh 3 State Electricity Board and adopted by the Power Companies. The petitioner, through proper channel, applied for and was granted permission by order dated 26.10.2010 to pursue M.E./M.Tech. course from Shri Shankaracharya College of Engineering and Technology, Bhilai, in accordance with M.P.E.B. Circular dated 31.08.1956 read with Circular dated 14.03.1984, which categorically provide that employees acquiring a Post-Graduate Degree in Engineering are entitled to two advance increments in pay scale. After successfully acquiring M.E. in E&TC (Communication), the petitioner submitted her degree and made representations dated 02.08.2017 and thereafter clarifications as sought by the respondent authorities vide communications dated 22.03.2018, 24.05.2018 and 30.05.2018, followed by detailed replies dated 01.06.2018 and 30.11.2018, which were duly forwarded by the Executive Engineer to the Chief Engineer for consideration. Despite repeated recommendations and even a further letter dated 15.03.2022 issued by the Executive Director to consider the petitioner’s case, no order granting two increments has been passed, and instead further clarifications were again sought vide order dated 12.07.2022, to which the petitioner submitted a detailed reply on 16.01.2023, yet no decision has been taken till date. The inaction of the respondents is wholly arbitrary, unreasonable and discriminatory, especially when similarly situated Assistant Engineer, namely Satish Kumar Yadu, has been granted the same benefit of two advance increments by order dated 07.01.2022, whereas the petitioner has been unjustly denied the said benefit without any lawful justification. 4 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is eligible for grant of two advance increments and the corresponding pay scale upon obtaining a post-graduation degree in Engineering, in terms of the applicable service rules. However, without assigning any reason, the said benefit has not been granted till date, despite the petitioner having submitted several representations in this regard. It is further submitted that the circulars annexed with the petition as Annexure P/3 are still in force, and on the basis of the said circulars, other similarly situated persons have been granted the benefit of two advance increments on acquiring a post-graduation degree in Engineering. Therefore, the petitioner is also entitled to the said relief. 5. Learned counsel for the respondents submits that the representation of the petitioner shall be considered and decided in the light of the circulars dated 31.08.1956, 14.03.1984 and 15.03.1989. On a query being put to him, he submits that, to the best of his knowledge, no subsequent circular has been issued till date and the aforesaid circulars are still in force. 6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. 7. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, the respondents are directed to consider and decide the claim of the petitioner, as raised in the representations submitted before the competent authority, in accordance with law and in the light of the circulars referred to hereinabove. The competent authority shall pass a reasoned and 5 speaking order within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order along with a duly constituted representation. 8. With the aforesaid direction, the present petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Vishakha