Delhi High Court raps Centre inaction on pay

The Delhi high court rapped the Centre for not taking action on the proposal sent by the Delhi government for revision of pay scales of public prosecutors of the district courts.

Justice J.R. Midha said the Centre was not doing anything on the proposal. He asked why the Centre was not considering it

“The revised salaries are to be paid by the Delhi government. The manner in which the file is moving shows the Centre is not interested in doing anything,” the court said, adding that the file was sent to the LG in September 2016 after which it was sent to the President of India for his approval as the Delhi government does not have the power to decide service-related issues.

“This is a minor thing, you resolve it,” the court advised additional solicitor-general Sanjay Jain, who appeared for the Centre.

The judge also asked why the finance ministry was sitting on the file for six months.

Judge Midha said he was “disturbed” after reading the file as the Centre had put hundreds of objections in it, which was “not warranted”.

Delhi government counsel Rahul Mehra submitted that they had sent the Cabinet note in December to the LG approving the hike in the salary of the prosecutors.