JUDGMENT :

Jyotsna Rewal Dua, J.

All these petitions involve common question of law and facts, hence are being taken up together for adjudication. For convenience, facts and pleadings from lead case CWP No. 2500 of 2021 (Ranjit Singh and others Vs. State of H.P. and others) are being referred to hereinafter.

Petitioners are presently serving as Head Teachers/Central Head Teachers in the State Education Department. With the basic grievance of denial of increments on their promotion as Head Teachers and discrimination meted out to them on this count vis-à-vis other Head Teachers, who have been given promotional increments on promotion to the post of Head Teachers, the petitioners have preferred these writ petitions.

2. The case

2(i) Petitioners were appointed as Junior Basic Teachers (JBT) in respondent-Education Department on different dates. They satisfy the criteria laid down under the applicable Recruitment and Promotion Rues (R&P Rules).

2(ii) Post of JBT held by the petitioners is feeder cadre for promotion to the post of Head Teacher. Post of Head Teacher is feeder category post