Delhi HC Seeks Govt Reply On Plea By Law Researchers Over Delayed Salary Hike Despite Approval

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Delhi government to respond to a petition filed by law researchers who served High Court judges from 2018-2025, demanding implementation of a 2023 order raising their monthly pay to Rs.80,000.

A division bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta acknowledged the crucial role law researchers play in the judiciary, often working late nights and weekends. The court noted that although the Chief Justice approved the salary hike in 2023 and the High Court administration cleared it, the Delhi government has yet to enforce it.

The bench issued a notice to the government and scheduled the next hearing for August 21.

The petition also seeks arrears from October 1, 2022, with 18% annual interest, citing significant delays despite administrative backing. Earlier, Justices Navin Chawla and Ajay Digpaul recused themselves due to conflicts of interest.

The researchers highlighted that their posts were created under the Delhi High Court Establishment Rules framed in 1972. Salary revisions over the years include increases from Rs 25,000 initially to Rs 35,000 in 2017, Rs 50,000 in 2018, Rs 65,000 in 2019, and the pending Rs 80,000 hike approved in 2022.

Despite multiple representations and RTI applications revealing bureaucratic delays in the Finance and Law Departments, the government has not approved the hike since September 2023. RTI responses indicated information was withheld under exemptions.

Justice C Harishankar, in an earlier hearing, remarked that law researchers often work longer hours than judges and are paid less than their Supreme Court counterparts. He called the nearly 2-year delay in implementing the hike “unjustified.”

The petitioners contend the delay violates their rights and seek immediate judicial intervention to ensure fair remuneration.

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