PUNJAB HIGHER QUALIFIED TEACHERS UNION(NON-PETITIONERS ) & vs STATE OF PUNJAB & ORS.

The Supreme Court ruled that under Article 14 of the Constitution, the State Government's Circular dated July 23, 1957, which revised pay scales for teachers, cannot impose additional requirements such as JST/JAV training for teachers in Category B Group II who have acquired higher educational qualifications. The Court held that all teachers in this category are entitled to the higher pay scale upon improving their qualifications, as the denial of such benefits based on training requirements violates the principle of equality. The Court directed the State to extend the higher pay scale to all eligible teachers without discrimination.