HC issues rule over fixing nationalised college teachers’ salary

Staff Reporter  :
The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain in four weeks as to why fixing the pay scale of the temporarily appointed teachers of the nationalised colleges at the initial stage of the corresponding grade of the existing national pay scale should not be declared illegal.

Education Secretary, Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), and other respondents have been asked to comply with the rule.
The High Court also issued a status quo upon a government notification that asked the nationalised teachers to refund the money received by them as monthly payment order (MPO) in 7th grade of the national pay scale since their absorption on August 8 in 2018.

The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by 18 teachers of two nationalised colleges in Sylhet and Sunamganj.

Lawyer Mohammad Siddique Ullah Miah appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitioners, while Deputy Attorney General Saifuddin Khaled represented the state.
The lawyer said, “18 teachers of Kanaighat Degree College in Sylhet and Sulla Degree College in Sunamganj got MPO in 9th grade after their appointment as lecturer. Their salary was upgraded to 7th grade after a selection grade on completion of eight years of their job.

Later their colleges were nationalised along with other colleges. These teachers also got temporary appointment under the new rules, however, their pay and allowances were fixed at the 9th grade instead of the 7th grade of the national pay scale, according to the Rule-9 of the Nationalised College Teachers and Employees Absorption Rules, 2018.