Gujarat told to hike pay of labour court judges

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court has directed the state government to hike salary of judicial officers in labour courts by Sep 9 and comply with a Supreme Court order on the issue.

The first bench of the high court while hearing an application of the Gujarat Labour Court Judicial Officers’ Association observed that the central government revised the pay scale of judicial officers of the state by notification dated June 26, 2009.

The court noted that the benefits of revised pay scale were not given to the officers posted in the labour courts though it was provided to other members of Gujarat State Judicial Service.

A division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice K.M. Thaker came down heavily on the state government for not complying with the Supreme Court’s order on the matter dated May 4 which directed to raise pay scales and allowances with effect from Jan 1, 2006.

Arrears were also ordered to be paid. Sixty percent of these were to be paid in cash spread over two financial years and 40 percent were to be deposition in their provident fund account.

The chief justice said: “We have noticed that if we pass final order, the respondents may say that it will amount to grant of final relief and therefore, we are not deliberating on the issue for the present.”

“However, the Supreme Court having passed the order, the state government cannot say that they will not implement the said order and therefore, they are bound by the order passed by the Supreme Court,” he said Thursday.

“We adjourn the case with a clear understanding and expect that the state will implement the Supreme Court’s decision and inform the court of its implementation by the next date of hearing,” the bench said.

The matter has been posted for final hearing Sep 9.