1 / 3 CGHC010388592026 2026:CGHC:43416 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 7353 of 2026 R.L. Mishra S/o Late Shri Tilakdhari Mishra, Aged About 62 Years Retired Principal In The Government Girls Higher Secondary School Ambikapur District -Surguja (C.G.) And R/o House No.11, D.C. Road, Near Collector Bangla, Ambikapur, District -Surguja (C.G.) ... Petitioner versus 1 - State of Chhattisgarh Through The Principal Secretary, Department of School Education, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, District -Raipur, Chhattisgarh 2 - The Director of Public Instruction ( D P I ), Department of School Education, Indrawati Bhawan, Atal Nagar, District -Raipur, Chhattisgarh 3 - The Joint Director, School Education Deaprtment, Ambikaqpur District Surguja (C.G.) 4 - The District Education Officer, Ambikaqpur District Surguja (C.G.) ... Respondents For Petitioner : Mr. Aman Upadhyay, Advocate For State/Respondent : Mr. Anadi Sharma, PL (Hon’ble Shri Justice Bibhu Datta Guru) Order on Board 07/10/2026 1. By way of the instant petition, the petitioner has sought a direction towards the respondent authorities to grant the benefit of First-Time Pay ASHUTOSH MISHRA Digitally signed by ASHUTOSH MISHRA Date: 2026.10.07 17:58:08 +0530 2 / 3 Scale on account of completing 08 years of service. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is a retired employee from the post of Principal, E Cadre and retired from service on 31.03.2026. It is submitted that the petitioner became entitled to the benefit of First Time Scale Pay upon completion of eight years of continuous service on 22.09.2019. The petitioner’s case for grant of First Time Scale Pay was duly considered at the departmental level and was recommended by the Joint Director, Public Instructions, Surguja Division, Ambikapur, vide letter dated 13.10.2020, addressed to the Director, Public Instructions, Chhattisgarh. The petitioner’s name was included in the said recommendation at Serial No.4. Learned counsel further submits that despite the aforesaid recommendation, the benefit of First Time Scale Pay has not been extended to the petitioner till date. It is further submitted that the petitioner thereafter submitted an application/representation dated 27.11.2025 before the competent authority, requesting for grant of the said benefit, but the same has not yet been considered or decided. Therefore, the respondents may be directed to decide the same. 3. Learned State counsel submits that if the petitioner’s claim is still pending consideration before the Director, Public Instructions, Chhattisgarh, the same shall be considered and decided in accordance with law and on its own merits. 4. In view of the aforesaid submissions, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to the Director, Public Instructions, Chhattisgarh, 3 / 3 Raipur, to consider and decide the petitioner’s claim for grant of First Time Scale Pay with effect from 22.09.2019, in the light of the recommendation made by the Joint Director, Public Instructions, Surguja Division, Ambikapur, vide letter dated 13.10.2020 (Annexure P/1), as also the petitioner’s subsequent representation dated 27.11.2025, by passing a reasoned and speaking order, in accordance with the applicable rules. The aforesaid exercise shall be completed within a period of 45 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 5. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the petitioner’s claim, and the competent authority shall take an appropriate decision independently, in accordance with law. 6. With the aforesaid direction, the writ petition stands disposed of. SD/- SD/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) JUDGE ashu