Justice Navin Chawla recuses from hearing plea by 13 law researchers seeking salary hike. This is the second judge to step away due to conflict of interest in the case.
New Delhi: Today, on July 2, Justice Navin Chawla of the Delhi High Court stepped away from hearing a petition filed by thirteen law researchers. These researchers had worked in the chambers of High Court judges between 2018 and 2025.
They approached the court asking for the implementation of a decision that would increase their monthly salary.
ALSO READ: Law Researchers Move Delhi HC Over Salary Hike Delay and Unpaid Arrears Since 2022
Justice Chawla said he would not be able to hear the case due to a possible conflict of interest. While stepping aside from the case, he stated,
“This has to go before another bench.”
With this, Justice Chawla became the second judge to recuse from the matter. Earlier, on May 29, Justice Ajay Digpaul also stepped back because a member of his extended family had worked as a law researcher in the High Court.
The petition, filed by Rushant Malhotra and others, is about a decision made by the then Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in August 2023.
ALSO READ: 8th Pay Commission: Full Details On Salary Hike, Pension & Key Changes Ahead
This decision approved increasing the monthly salary of law researchers from ₹65,000 to ₹80,000, effective from October 1, 2022.
Following this decision, in September 2023, the Joint Registrar of the Delhi High Court informed the Delhi Government about the approved salary hike.
However, the Delhi Government has not implemented this decision yet. According to the petitioners, they are still waiting for the government to clear the proposal.
The petition requests the court to direct the government to implement the Chief Justice’s decision from October 1, 2022, and to release the pending salary arrears along with 18% annual interest until the full amount is paid.
The plea further states,
“Almost two years have elapsed since the proposal was first sent to GNCTD, and even after the clarifications were provided on 07.05.2024, the order has not been implemented. The failure to act upon the Hon’ble Chief Justice’s order dated 16.08.2023 and continued withholding of arrears, despite clear administrative approvals and constitutional sanction under Article 229, necessitates the present writ petition.”
It is alleged in the petition that the Delhi Government has “arbitrarily” chosen not to implement the decision that was duly approved by the High Court.
The petitioners argue that this delay is unfair and unjustified.
Senior Advocate Ankit Jain appeared for the petitioners, along with lawyers Abhishek Taneja, Aditya Chauhan, Sahil Sharma, Shashank Agarwal, Bhavya Khatreja, and Surya Sirohi.
Representing the Delhi Government were Senior Panel Counsel Avshreya Pratap Singh Rudy and advocate Amit Gupta.
Meanwhile, Standing Counsel Radhika Bishwajit Dubey along with advocates Gurleen Kaur Waraich and Kritarth Upadhyay appeared on behalf of the Delhi High Court.
Case Title:
Rushant Malhotra & Ors. Vs The Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors
Click Here to Read More Reports on Salary
