Allahabad High Court
RAM NIWAS SHARMAversusSTATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND 5 OTHERS
- Decided
- Bench
- SIDDHARTH NANDAN
Holding
The court held that retirement dues of a caretaker fall within the jurisdiction of the District Inspector of Schools and, while the writ petition is disposed, the respondent must decide the pending application within two months.
Summary
Ram Niwas Sharma, a retired caretaker of a government inter‑college, filed a writ petition seeking his retirement dues. The High Court earlier directed him to make a representation before the Deputy Director of Education, which was disposed with the observation that the District Inspector of Schools is the competent authority. Subsequent applications filed by the petitioner remained pending, and the court observed that the quantum of retirement dues cannot be adjudicated in writ jurisdiction. Consequently, the court disposed of the petition at the admissions stage, directing Respondent No. 5 (the District Inspector) to consider and decide the petitioner’s application within two months of service of the order. The petition was therefore dismissed with a time‑bound directive to the administrative authority.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court can entertain the claim for retirement dues of a caretaker in writ jurisdiction.
- Whether the District Inspector of Schools is the appropriate authority to decide the petitioner’s retirement dues.
- Whether a time‑bound direction to the respondent is appropriate to ensure expeditious disposal of the pending application.
Subjects
- retirement dues
- writ petition
- administrative jurisdiction
- education department
- district inspector
- time‑bound decision
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
WRIT - A No. - 15254 of 2026
Ram Niwas Sharma
.....Petitioner(s)
Versus
State Of Uttar Pradesh And 5 Others
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Ranjeet Singh
Counsel for Respondent(s) : C.S.C.
Court No. - 6
HON'BLE SIDDHARTH NANDAN, J.
1. Heard Sri Ranjit Singh, Advocate appearing on behalf of the
petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the State-
respondents.
2. In view of the order proposed to be passed, notice to
respondent No. 6 is dispensed with.
3. The contention of learned counsel for the petitioner is that he
had approached this Court by way of filing Writ-A No. 14086
of 2025 (Ram Niwas Sharma vs. State of U.P. and others) and
this Court by order dated 18.09.2025 had directed the petitioner
to file a representation before the Deputy Director of Education
and he was required to take the decision on the said application
expeditiously. In pursuance of the aforesaid direction of this
Court, the petitioner had preferred a representation, which was
disposed of by order dated 04.12.2025 with an observation that
it is the District Inspector of Schools, who is competent to take
decision on the claim raised by the petitioner.
4. For reference, the operative portion of the impugned order
dated 04.12.2025 is reproduced herein below:
"निर्णय
समीक्षित बिन्दुओं के आलोक में उल्लेख करना समीचीन प्रतीत हो रहा है
कि अशासकीय सहायता प्राप्त विद्यालयों में कार्यरत शिक्षक एवं
WRIA No. 15254 of 2026
2
शिक्षणेत्तर कर्मचारियों के सेवानिवृत्तिक प्रकरणों का निस्तारण उप शिक्षा
निदेशक(मा०) की अधिकारिता में अवश्य निहित है किन्तु राजकीय
विद्यालयों में कार्यरत चतुर्थश्रेणी कर्मचारियों के सेवानिवृत्त देयों का
निराकरण कार्यरत संस्था एवं जिला विद्यालय निरीक्षक के स्तर से
किये जाने की व्यवस्था विद्यमान है। श्री रामनिवास शर्मा से०नि० की
परिचारक के रूप में की गयी सेवायें बाधित है तथा सेवापुस्तिका की
अनुपलब्धता में इनके सेवानिवृत्तिक देयों के नियमानुसार निस्तारण में
कठिनाई उत्पन्न होना दृष्टिगोचर हो रहा है। उक्तानुसार प्रकरण जिला
विद्यालय निरीक्षक चित्रकूट को संदर्भित करते हुए निर्देशित किया जाता है
कि श्री रामनिवास शर्मा सेवानिवृत्त परिचारक राजकीय इण्टर कालेज
मानिकपुर-चित्रकूट के सेवानिवृत्त देयों का प्राथमिकता के आधार पर दो
सप्ताह के भीतर नियमानुसार निराकरण करना सुनिश्चित करें। याची श्री
रामनिवास शर्मा सेवानिवृत्त परिचारक को भी निर्देशित किया जाता है कि
अपने सेवानिवृत्त देयों के निराकरण हेतु आवश्यक प्रपत्र/अभिलेख तैयार
कराते हुए विभागीय अधिकारियों के समक्ष प्रस्तुत कर प्रकरण के
निस्तारण में अपेक्षित सहयोग प्रदान करें। उक्तानुसार एतद्द्वारा याची का
प्रत्यावेदन निस्तारित किया जाता है।"
5. Thereafter the aforesaid order was also subjected to
challenge before this Court by way of Writ-A No. 4273 of
2026 (Ram Niwas Sharma and others Vs. State of U.P. and
others). During the pendency of the aforesaid writ petition,
some claim was released by the District Inspector of Schools
and this Court by order dated 08.05.2026, while observing that
the dispute of quantum of retirement dues cannot be
adjudicated in writ jurisdiction, accordingly petitioner was
given liberty to approach the concerned respondent by order
dated 08.05.2026.
6. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that till date the
application of the petitioner has not been decided; and since no
time bound direction was issued, he is now being compelled to
file the present petition.
7. Learned Standing Counsel submits that the respondent no.5
will take suitable decision on the claim of the petitioner,
expeditiously.
8. In view of the aforesaid fact that the petitioner has already
filed applications dated 01.07.2026 and 12.08.2026, no fruitful
purpose would be served in keeping the present writ petition
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pending and on the consent of the parties the writ petition is
being decided at the admissions stage itself with a direction to
the respondent no.5 to consider and decide the aforesaid
application of the petitioner, expeditiously, preferably within a
period of 2 months from the date of service of certified copy of
this order.
9. With the aforesaid observations/directions, the writ petition
stands disposed of.
(Siddharth Nandan,J.)
September 29, 2026
S.Prakash
Digitally signed by :-
SHASHI PRAKASH
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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