Case Note & Summary
The case involved Senior Draughtsmen in the Ordnance Factories under the Ministry of Defence, who challenged the Government's decision to classify them into two groups with different pay scales based on seniority. The appellants contended that all Senior Draughtsmen performed the same work and discharged similar duties, thus there was no justification for the distinction made by the Government. The High Court dismissed their petition, asserting that it was within the Government's purview to fix different pay scales. The Supreme Court, however, found that the classification lacked any intelligible differentia and violated Article 14 of the Constitution. The Court emphasized that where all relevant considerations are the same, individuals holding identical posts should not be treated differently in terms of pay. The Court referred to previous judgments, including Randhir Singh v. Union of India, to support its reasoning. Ultimately, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal, directing the Government to fix the pay scale of the appellants at Rs. 425-700, thereby ensuring equal pay for equal work.
Headnote
A) Constitutional Law - Equal Pay for Equal Work - Discrimination in Pay Scales - Constitution of India, Article 14 - The classification of Senior Draughtsmen into two groups with different pay scales based on seniority was found to be discriminatory as all were performing identical duties. The Court held that such differentiation violates the principle of equality enshrined in Article 14 and struck down the Government's order implementing the pay scale division (Paras 102-110).
Issue of Consideration
Whether the classification of Senior Draughtsmen into two groups with different pay scales based on seniority is discriminatory and violates Article 14 of the Constitution.
Final Decision
The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, striking down the Government's order that classified Senior Draughtsmen into two groups with different pay scales. The Court directed the Union of India to fix the pay scale of the appellants at Rs. 425-700 and awarded costs to the appellants.
Law Points
- Equal pay for equal work
- discrimination based on seniority
- classification of employees
- violation of Article 14
- justification for different pay scales
