The ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare (M & BCW) Department, Government of Odisha, has issued an important circular dated 24th June 2026 directing all Collectors and District Magistrates to review and rectify cases where Physical Education Teachers (PETs) were irregularly given a higher Grade Pay of Rs. 2,800/- (Level-8) instead of their correct Grade Pay.
If you’re a PET working under this department, a District Welfare Officer, or simply trying to understand what this order means for your salary, here’s a simple, complete breakdown of the circular — what it says, why it was issued, and what happens next.
What Is This Circular About?
In short: some PETs were being paid a higher salary grade than the rules actually allow them, and the government has now ordered this to be corrected.
The order, issued by B. Parameswaran, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, is addressed to all Collectors & District Magistrates across Odisha and marked “Court Matter / Most Urgent.”
Background: What Is the Correct Grade Pay for a PET?
According to the Odisha Subordinate Tribal Welfare Education (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1993, the prescribed qualification for appointment as a Physical Education Teacher (PET) is:
Matriculation with C.P.Ed (Certificate in Physical Education)
Based on this qualification, the correct pay for a PET is:
- Level-6 under ORSP Rules, 2017
- Earlier known as PB-1: Rs. 5,200–20,200/- with Grade Pay of Rs. 2,200/- under ORSP Rules, 2008
This is the pay scale the post of PET is officially entitled to — regardless of what extra qualifications an individual teacher may hold.
What Went Wrong?
The department found that in six districts — Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Sundargarh, and Mayurbhanj — some PETs were given a higher Grade Pay of Rs. 2,800/- (Level-8) simply because they held additional qualifications like IA/C.P.Ed or higher.
This happened even though there is no rule that allows a higher pay scale just because a teacher has a higher qualification than what the post requires.
How Did This Happen? A Quick Timeline
- 29 August 2018: The Collector & District Magistrate, Nabarangpur, wrote to the department (Letter No. 1534) asking for clarification on this issue, citing certain court judgments.
- 18 February 2019: The department replied (Letter No. 3403) saying such cases should be examined strictly as per the 1993 Recruitment Rules — not simply based on higher qualifications.
- What actually happened: This 2019 clarification was misunderstood in several districts, and higher Grade Pay/Level was extended to PETs without any rule allowing it, and without approval from the competent authority or the Finance Department.
What Did the Finance Department Say?
When the matter was reviewed with the Finance Department, they gave a clear opinion:
Simply having a higher qualification than what a post requires does not automatically entitle an employee to a higher pay scale. In government service, the post decides the pay scale — not the individual’s extra qualifications — unless the recruitment rules themselves are formally amended.
Since the 1993 Recruitment Rules for PETs were never amended to allow this, the department has concluded that the higher Grade Pay of Rs. 2,800/-/Level-8 given to some PETs has no legal backing and cannot continue.
What Has the Government Ordered Now?
The circular directs all Collectors and District Magistrates to:
- Immediately review all cases where PETs under the ST & SC Development Department were given Grade Pay of Rs. 2,800/- (Level-8) instead of the correct Level-6.
- Take corrective action strictly as per law, following the applicable Recruitment Rules and government instructions.
- Give affected employees a fair hearing before passing any rectification order — this is a legal safeguard known as the principle of natural justice, meaning no one’s pay will be reduced without being heard first.
- Complete the entire review within 90 days from the date of the letter — i.e., by around 22nd September 2026.
- Personally monitor the process to ensure it’s completed on time.
- Submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) to the department once done, showing district-wise details of cases reviewed and corrected.
The department has also noted that continuing to pay the higher grade pay wrongly puts an avoidable financial burden on the State exchequer, which is why the matter has been marked as top priority.
Who Is Affected?
This order specifically applies to Physical Education Teachers (PETs) working under schools run by the ST & SC Development, M & BCW Department in the following districts:
- Kandhamal
- Sambalpur
- Nabarangpur
- Kalahandi
- Sundargarh
- Mayurbhanj
If you are a PET in one of these districts and are currently drawing Grade Pay of Rs. 2,800/- (Level-8), your case will likely come up for review under this circular.
What Should Affected Employees Do?
- You will be given an opportunity of hearing before any final action is taken — you do not need to panic immediately.
- Keep your service records, appointment letters, and qualification documents ready in case you’re called for verification.
- Reach out to your District Welfare Officer for updates specific to your case, since they have been directed to assist with compliance.
- Watch for the Action Taken Report and any follow-up communication from your district administration.
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Why This Matters
This circular is a good example of how pay and grade matters in government service are strictly governed by official Recruitment Rules, not by individual qualifications alone. Even well-intentioned decisions at the district level can be treated as “irregular” if they aren’t backed by a rule amendment and proper financial approval — and such decisions can be reversed later, sometimes years afterward.
For government employees anywhere in Odisha, this is a useful reminder to always confirm that any pay revision or grade extension has proper rule-based backing and Finance Department concurrence before assuming it is final.
FAQs: Grade Pay 2800 Rectification for PETs in Odisha
Q1. What is the correct Grade Pay for a Physical Education Teacher (PET) under the ST & SC Development Department? A. Level-6 under ORSP Rules, 2017 (earlier PB-1: Rs. 5,200–20,200/- with Grade Pay of Rs. 2,200/- under ORSP Rules, 2008).
Q2. Which districts are affected by this rectification order? A. Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Sundargarh, and Mayurbhanj.
Q3. Why was Grade Pay of Rs. 2,800/- considered irregular? A. Because there is no provision in the 1993 Recruitment Rules allowing a higher grade pay based solely on a PET holding higher qualifications like IA/C.P.Ed, and it was granted without Finance Department approval.
Q4. Will affected PETs lose their higher pay immediately? A. No. The order requires that affected employees be given a fair hearing before any rectification order is passed, in line with the principles of natural justice.
Q5. What is the deadline for this review? A. The entire review and corrective action must be completed within 90 days from 24th June 2026, i.e., by around 22nd September 2026.
Q6. Who issued this circular? A. B. Parameswaran, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, ST & SC Development, M & BCW Department, Government of Odisha.
This article is based on official government circular No. STSCD-EEI-CASE1-0017-2023/14501/SSD dated 24 June 2026. For the most accurate and updated information, please refer to your District Welfare Office or the official ST & SC Development Department notifications.
For more updates on Odisha government service rules, pay matters, and recruitment news, keep following LearnOdisha.
