The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Government to explain why the enhanced remuneration approved for law researchers in the High Court cannot be made effective from October 1, 2022. A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta was hearing a writ petition filed by 13 individuals who are or were contractual law researchers with the Delhi High Court between 2018 and 2025. They seek implementation of a decision to raise their monthly remuneration from ₹65,000 to ₹80,000, along with arrears and interest at 18% per annum, from October 1, 2022.
According to the petition, on August 16, 2023, a meeting of the Court Committee, together with the Chief Justice, approved the increase in remuneration to ₹80,000 with effect from October 1, 2022. Following that, the proposal was sent to the government. On September 3, 2025, the Delhi Government’s Council of Ministers decided to approve the raise, but only prospectively, with effect from September 2, 2025. The government has not yet sanctioned retrospective payment of arrears for the period from October 2022 to September 2025.
During the hearing, the Principal Secretary (Law, Justice & LA) and the government’s panel counsel submitted that although the pay hike had been approved by the government, it was only intended to operate “prospectively” starting September 2, 2025, and that no decision has been taken to grant the arrears for the earlier period.
The Court, noting the earlier approval by the High Court Committee and Chief Justice in August 2023, asked the Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, to file an affidavit explaining why the earlier decision and approvals are not being implemented with effect from October 1, 2022. The Court directed that this affidavit be submitted before the next hearing.
The petitioners argue that nearly two years have passed since the Chief Justice’s recommendation, and despite the administrative approvals—including clarifications provided in May 2024—the order has not been implemented. They further contend that the Lieutenant Governor has not either approved or rejected the recommendation, effectively delaying the matter. The petition claims that such delay is unjust and deprives researchers of benefits they are entitled to, considering the workload and hours they serve.
In their plea, they rely on constitutional sanction under Article 229, which empowers the High Court to appoint staff on its own terms. They assert that withholding the arrears despite an approved decision amounts to a denial of benefits, and they seek not only the enhanced monthly pay for the period from October 2022 onward but also the arrears with statutory interest.
The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for October 10. At that stage, the Court expects the government’s affidavit explaining the refusal or delay in giving retrospective effect to the pay raise to be filed, after which further orders will be considered.
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