GOUTAM BHADURI,J. - (1.)The claim of the petitioners in the present writ petition is for a direction to the respondents to grant pensionary benefits by adding one increment which the petitioners were entitled for, on continuous working for one year before the date of retirement.
(2.)The case of the petitioners is that the petitioner no.1 was working as Headmaster at Govt. Harihar Higher Secondary School Nawapara Rajim, District Gariyaband, Petitioner No.2 was working as Lecturer at Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School, Nawapara, Rajim, District Gariyaband, Petitioner No.3 was working as Headmaster in the Office of Block Education Officer, Abhanpur and petitioner No.4 was working as UDT at Govt. Harihar Higher Secondary School, Nawapara Rajim, District Gariyaband and they have retired on 30.06.2019, 30.06.2018, 30.06.2019 and 30.06.2018, respectively, and were entitled for the benefit of one increment from 1st July. According to counsel for the petitioners, the petitioners were entitled for increment for the services rendered in the previous year and therefore have earned the said benefit and while granting pensionary benefits, that one increment which fell due on working for one year before the retirement in the previous year, should have been added for the purpose of determining pension and pensionary benefits.
(3.)At this juncture, the counsel for the petitioner brought to the notice of the court a recent circular of the General Administration Department of the Govt. of Chhattisgarh dated 11.06.2019 whereby the State Govt., as a Policy decision, has decided to grant one increment to those employees who retire on 30th June, 2018 and 30th of June, 2019 while fixing their pension and pensionary benefits.