Delhi High Court Today (July 8) questioned the state government over a pending salary hike for legal researchers approved in 2023. The petitioners demand full payment with interest from October 2022.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Delhi government to explain why it has not yet implemented a 2023 order to increase the monthly salary of legal researchers working with High Court judges.
A total of 13 law researchers, who served between 2018 and 2025, have filed a plea asking the Court to enforce this approved salary hike.
A bench consisting of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta heard the plea and acknowledged the crucial contribution made by law researchers in assisting judges and maintaining the justice system.
The bench stated:
“They are required to stay late hours and render services even on weekend. Prima facie, the Delhi government should take a decision.”
The Court noted that in 2023, the Chief Justice had approved increasing the researchers’ salary from Rs 65,000 to Rs 80,000 per month, and the Delhi High Court formally approved this as well.
But until now, the Delhi government has not implemented the salary hike.
Taking this into account, the Court issued a formal notice to the Delhi government and asked for a reply:
“Issue notice to the respondents. Short affidavit is to be filed,”
-the Court directed.
The matter will be heard again on August 21.
Earlier, Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ajay Digpaul had recused themselves from this matter because of a conflict of interest.
As per the petition, the Chief Justice approved the salary increase in August 2023, with effect from October 1, 2022. Later, in September 2023, the Joint Registrar of the Delhi High Court informed the Delhi government about this decision.
However, the researchers stated that the government has still not acted on this approved increase. The petition was filed by Rushant Malhotra and others, who asked the Court to order the immediate implementation of the salary hike along with pending arrears and 18% annual interest until full payment is made.
The petition 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.”
According to the petitioners, the Delhi government has arbitrarily delayed the decision without giving any legal reason, even though it was already cleared by the High Court.
This matter will now be heard again on August 21, where further developments are expected regarding the delay in payment to the legal researchers.
APPEARANCES:
Representing the petitioners were Senior Advocate Ankit Jain, along with Advocates Abhishek Taneja, Aditya Chauhan, Sahil Sharma, Shashank Agarwal, Bhavya Khatreja, and Surya Sirohi.
On behalf of the Delhi government, Senior Panel Counsel Avshreya Pratap Singh Rudy and Advocate Amit Gupta appeared.
The Delhi High Court was represented by its Standing Counsel Radhika Bishwajit Dubey, along with Advocates Gurleen Kaur Waraich and Kritarth Upadhyay.
CASE TITLE:
Rushant Malhotra & Ors. Vs The Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors.
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