1. The petitioner is an Assistant Teacher in Science Group working since August 9, 1988, in Bakhrabad Bharati Vidyapith, which is a duly recognized Government Aided High School in the District of Midnapore. The petitioner obtained B.Sc. with distinction in the year 1970, and also obtained the Degree of Bachelor of Education from the Calcutta University in the year 1975, and was placed in the Second Class.

2. At the time of entry in service as the teacher, accordingly he was B. Sc., B.Ed, and he was placed in the pay scale of Rs. 1640-3635, which is a revised Pay scale No 14 of Annexure-III of the ROPA Rules as published by the Government in Memo No 33-Edn(B), dated Calcutta, the 7th March, 1990 His existing pay on the basis of the said revised pay scale was fixed at Rs. 2655/- on May 24, 1995. The ROPA Rules also provide higher pay scale for the teachers who have enhanced qualification, which is called a qualification pay.

3. It appears that, in order to have the benefit of higher pay scale which is given on the basis of acquiring of higher academic qualifications, the petitioner had obtained the Master of Science in Mathematics Degree in the Correspondence Course introduced