Ashutosh Mohunta, J.

1. The petitioner has prayed that the respondents be directed to release three advance increments from the date of acquiring Ph. D. qualification and also to quash that part of circular Annexures P-3 and P-4, which denies such a benefit to the petitioner.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the pay scale of the teachers in Universities and Colleges were revised w.e.f. January 1, 1986 by the Govt. of India on the recommendations of the University Grants Commission (Annexure P-3), which were also adopted by the Govt. of Haryana vide letter dated March 8, 1989 (Annexure P-4). In view of the said circulars, lecturers who possess research degrees i.e. Ph.D. or M. Phil. qualification at the time of recruitment on or after January 1, 1986 were entitled to three or one advance increment respectively. Whereas those lecturers who improved their qualifications before or after January 1, 1986, while in service were not entitled to such benefit. The relevant part of the circular is as under :-

"In order to encourage research in continuation of post graduate studies, candidates who at the time of their regular appointment as lecturers possess Ph.