The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to grant law researchers the enhanced pay of Rs 80,000 per month with retrospective effect from October 1, 2022. The Bench held that the decision on remuneration lies within the powers of the Chief Justice under Article 229 of the Constitution.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to pay the increased salary to all law researchers (LRs) working with the Court, and this payment must be made with retrospective effect from October 1, 2022.
The case was heard by a Division Bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta.
During the hearing, Justice Singh observed,
“It is clear that they are making a technical objection. It is a policy decision of the High Court not the Government. The LRs have all been working.”
The matter was related to the enhancement of remuneration for law researchers attached to judges of the Delhi High Court.
The Committee for Appointment of Law Researchers had, in its 2023 meeting, taken into account various factors and approved an increase in the monthly remuneration — from Rs 65,000 to Rs 80,000 — effective from October 2022.
This decision was officially communicated by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court to the Delhi Government on September 1, 2023. However, as there was a considerable delay in implementing it, a petition was filed seeking directions for payment of the enhanced remuneration.
The Court noted that notice in this petition was issued on July 8, 2025, and the Delhi Government was impleaded through its Law Secretary and Finance Secretary.
Affidavits were filed subsequently. On September 9, 2025, the Delhi Government submitted its decision to enhance the remuneration, but the order approved the hike only prospectively from September 2, 2025.
By order dated October 8, 2025, the Department of Law, Justice, and Legislative Affairs under the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) approved the enhancement of remuneration for law researchers attached with Delhi High Court judges from Rs 65,000 to Rs 80,000 — but this was to take effect only from September 2, 2025.
Senior Advocate Ankit Jain appeared on behalf of the law researchers. He relied on Article 229 of the Constitution of India and judgments of the Supreme Court Association, arguing that
“in so far as the terms and conditions for LR is concerned, the Chief Justice would be the authority who would prescribe the conditions and the terms and nature of engagement.”
He also pointed out that on previous occasions when remuneration was increased, the Delhi Government had accepted the Chief Justice’s decision without objection.
On the other hand, the GNCTD submitted that
“when the decision was taken by the Committee and by the Chief Justice, the budgetary considerations were not taken into account.”
After hearing both sides, the Court noted that
“in the present case what is noticeable is the scheme itself provides that the scheme for engagement of LRs under Article 229. In fact, the Delhi Govt has no objection on enhancement. The only issue appears to be the date from when the remuneration has to be enhanced.”
The Bench further observed,
“Clearly the decision of the administrative committee of this Court was for enhancement from October 1, 2022, the same was also approved by the Chief Justice. In the Delhi Government’s order, the Cabinet Decision does not give any reason why it is approved from Sept 2, 2025 and not before.”
Emphasizing the High Court’s administrative authority, the Bench said,
“In principle, the Delhi Govt has already approved the enhancement. The date from when the enhancement should apply is clearly within the realm of the powers of the Chief Justice and High Court itself.”
Finally, the Court held that there was no justification for denying the retrospective effect and stated,
“Since there are no reasons on record, going to the fact that the scheme has been framed under Art 229, the Court is of the opinion that the enhancement ought to come into effect as approved by the Chief Justice with effect from October 1, 2022.”
Concluding the order, the Court directed the government to implement the decision immediately, stating,
“Let the directions be given effect to. Accordingly, it is held that the enhancement will be given to the LRs who were engaged by this Court with effect from October 1, 2022.”
In short, the Delhi High Court has made it clear that law researchers are entitled to receive the enhanced remuneration of Rs 80,000 per month from October 1, 2022, as originally approved by the Chief Justice, rejecting the Delhi Government’s decision to apply the hike only from September 2, 2025.
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