The wait for Government teachers in Madhya Pradesh for Sixth Pay Commission benefits and 10 years of arrears has been extended, after the State Government moved the Supreme Court against the Jabalpur High Court order. The Supreme Court on Monday heard the State’s appeal and stayed the High Court’s stringent compliance directive. The High Court had ordered the Principal Secretary, School Education Department, to appear in person if the payments were not made by November 23, 2026. The matter is now listed for hearing after about six weeks.

 

The Jabalpur High Court, in its order dated September 24-25, had directed the State Government to extend Sixth Pay Commission benefits from 2006 and pay arrears from 2006 to 2016 to eligible teachers. The order was passed by a bench headed by Justice Deepak Khot while hearing a contempt petition filed by over 450 teachers, led by petitioner Rajesh Kumar Pandey. The petitioners contended that they were initially appointed in the Panchayat Department, merged into the Adhyapak cadre in 2006 and later absorbed into the School Education Department in 2018.

 

The High Court ordered that their service period be counted from the date of first appointment, paving the way for higher pay and seniority for around 70,000 teachers across the State. The order was seen as major relief, with an expected salary hike of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month for eligible teachers, depending on seniority and pay fixation. With the apex court staying the compliance deadline, the payment process has been put on hold. Reacting to the development, the Shaskiya Shikshak Sangathan, MP, said that whenever courts rule in favour of teachers, the Government challenges the order in a higher court instead of implementing it, causing unnecessary delay. The organisation has demanded that the Government respect judicial orders and release statutory benefits without further litigation. A final clarity on payment of Sixth Pay Commission benefits and arrears will emerge only after the next hearing in the Supreme Court.