SC upholds verdict allowing 10th-grade pay scale to primary school headmasters

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday upheld a High Court verdict that had asked the authorities concerned to allow the headmasters of the primary school's 10th-grade pay scale and enlist them as second-class government officers.

A four-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order, disposing of a civil review petition filed in this regard.

Following the order, the headmasters (trained and untrained) of the primary schools will be entitled to get salaries and other benefits under the 10th-grade pay scale and recognized as second-class officers from March 9, 2014, lawyers said.

Senior lawyer Barrister Salauddin Dolon took part in the hearing for the teachers, while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman stood for the state.

Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on March 9, 2014, fixed the 11th grade pay scale for trained headmasters and the 12th for the untrained ones. Following the government decision, 45 aggrieved teachers filed a writ petition with the High Court on March 4, 2018. The High Court after holding a hearing on the plea, issued a rule, asking authorities concerned to explain why the court shall not declare the government decision, illegal.

The High Court after holding a final hearing on the matter disposed of the rule and passed its judgment on February 25, 2019, asking authorities concerned to allow the headmasters (trained and untrained )of the primary school's 10th-grade pay scale and enlist them as second-class government officers.

The government later filed a leave to appeal petition against the High Court judgment, which was ultimately scrapped by the Appellate Division. Later the petition was filed, pleading the review the apex court order.