JYOTIRMAY BHATTACHARYA,J. - (1.) The petitioner was appointed as an Assistant Teacher in Barisha Girls' High School. Her appointment was approved with effect from 1st September, 1992. At the time of her appointment, her educational qualification was M.A., B.Ed. The said educational qualification was recorded in the approval letter. Post-graduate scale was given to the petitioner during the tenure of her service. The petitioner retired on superannuation with effect from 31st August, 2011.
(2.) In course of settlement of retiral dues of the petitioner, the Joint Director of Accounts, School Education Department pointed out that though the post-graduate scale was granted to the petitioner during the tenure of her service, but in fact she was not entitled to post-graduate scale of pay as she acquired Master Degree in International Relations from Jadavpur University which is not equivalent to the Master Degree in Political Science.
(3.) Accordingly, the Joint Director of Accounts suggested for recasting of her pay with effect from the date of her appointment. In fact, petitioner's pay was refixed right from the date of her appointment at every stage up to the date of her retirement. Such refixation was made by the concerned authority without giving any opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. If such refixation of petitioner's pay is given effect to, then certainly she will be financially looser. As such, this Court is of the view that such recasting of the petitioner's pay scale ought not to have been made without giving the petitioner an opportunity of hearing.;