Law Dept reprimanded; revised affidavit sought

HC staff pay anomalies:

JAMMU: The State High Court on Thursday expressed its displeasure upon an affidavit filed by the State Law Department in a petition regarding pay anomaly in court staff, asserting that it has been filed in complete ignorance about the burden of work which is undertaken by the Court Staff.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Bench secretary of the High Court regarding dearth of staff at various level in High Court and District Courts, Pay Anomaly in respect of officers and staff and promotional avenues to Law Graduate Readers of the High Court.

A Division Bench of the State High Court Comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Tashi Tabstan observed that affidavit by the Law Department has been filed in complete ignorance about the burden of work which is undertaken by the Court Staff.

DB further observed that the respondents shall take a holistic view of the nature of duties which are performed by the Court officials and file a response in terms of the order dated 22th October, 2018 as well as order dated 20th November, 2018.

Division Bench found that the respondents have filed the affidavit without bothering to undertake any examination of the pay and benefits which are being drawn by Court Staff in other States.

DB further directed respondents to place a comparative chart before this Court of pay scales and benefits which are being drawn by Court Staff in all positions all over the Country including Punjab & Haryana High Court, Delhi High Court, Maharashtra High Court as well as Himachal Pradesh High Court.

DB directed respondents to file affidavit within two weeks.