In a significant development, the Uttarakhand High Court has put on hold a recent government order that revised the selection and promotional pay scales for over 400 lecturers working in state-run intermediate colleges. The court has directed the state government to submit its official response within a period of four weeks.
Court Halts Controversial Pay Revision
A division bench comprising Justices Ravindra Maithani and Alok Mahra issued the stay order on Friday. The bench was hearing a petition filed by more than 400 lecturers, including Sushil Tiwari, Dhirendra Mishra, Vinod Painuly, and Shankar Bora. The educators have challenged the Govt Servant Pay Rules (First Amendment), 2025, and a subsequent government order issued by the finance secretary on December 18, 2025.
Lecturers' Argument: Retrospective Change Unfair
The core of the petitioners' argument revolves around a key benefit being taken away. According to the lecturers, under the earlier Govt Servant Pay Rules of 2016, both lecturers and LT Grade assistant teachers were entitled to receive one increment upon selection and promotion. However, the state government's amendment in 2025 abolished this increment.
More controversially, the government implemented this change retrospectively from January 1, 2016. The lecturers contend that this retrospective application, which impacts nearly a decade of their service, is particularly unjust. They argued that the amendment was selectively applied only to the academic cadre.
Constitutional Violations Alleged
The petition states that withdrawing the increment with retrospective effect violates Articles 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and equality of opportunity in public employment. The lecturers also cited relevant Supreme Court rulings in their support. On these grounds, they sought an immediate stay on the government's order, which the High Court has granted.
What Happens Next?
The matter has now been listed for the next hearing in April. The stay order provides temporary relief to the hundreds of affected lecturers across Uttarakhand's government intermediate colleges. The state administration's reply, due within four weeks, will be crucial in determining the future course of this legal battle over pay scales and teachers' rights. The court's intervention highlights the ongoing tensions between government policy changes and the protection of employees' service conditions.
