The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by the Delhi government challenging a Delhi High Court direction for retrospective payment of enhanced remuneration to law researchers.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi upheld the High Court’s order increasing the monthly remuneration of law researchers from ₹65,000 to ₹80,000 with effect from October 2022.
During the hearing, the Bench expressed disapproval of the government’s objection to retrospective payment and remarked:
The Court declined to interfere with the High Court’s decision, effectively affirming that the enhanced remuneration would be payable from the date specified by the High Court.
The Delhi government had contended that:
- The High Court’s directions pertained to salaries and allowances,
- Any such financial implications required the Governor’s approval under Article 229(2) of the Constitution, and
- Retrospective implementation would impose an unbudgeted financial burden of ₹9.45 crore on the state exchequer.
On this basis, the government sought setting aside of the High Court’s order.
The Delhi High Court had revised the remuneration structure of law researchers, enhancing their monthly pay to ₹80,000 and directing that the increase be implemented retrospectively from October 2022.
Refusing to accept the government’s challenge, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s direction and dismissed the plea, thereby clearing the way for law researchers to receive arrears in line with the revised pay scale.
The ruling reinforces the principle that administrative delays cannot be used to deny financial benefits already adjudicated in favour of employees.
