BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 21st July 2022: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a special leave petition filed by the State of Tripura challenging an interim order passed by the Tripura High Court which directed the state government to enhance the salary of the staff of the High Court as per recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission with effect from January 1, 2006.
In the order passed in December 2021, the High Court also directed the State to pay the salary arrears as well in three monthly installments starting from January 2022. Later, The High Court initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against the State Government for not implementing the directions.
Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar , representing the State of Tripura, told the Supreme Court that the High Court has summoned the Chief Secretary in the contempt proceedings asking him to appear on 25th July.
The Bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna, while issuing notice returnable within 3 weeks on the State ‘s SLP requested the High Court to defer the contempt proceedings in the mean time.
The High Court passed the directions in a petition filed by the High Court employees Association. A Single bench of the High Court noted that the benefit of the 6th Central pay Commission recommendations are given to the staff of the subordinate judiciary. Therefore, invoking the doctrine of equal pay for equal work, the single bench directed the State toextend the same benefit to the staff of the High Court as well. The State filed a writ appeal before the division bench against the judgement of the single bench.
A Division bench comprising Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice SG Chattopadhay on December 21, 2021 passed an interim order directing the State to implement the single bench directions subject to condition that the employees should refund the payments received s per the directions in case of their reversal.
