P&H HC directs Central Govt. to resolve issue of pay anomaly whereby senior Officers of Defence services were drawing lesser pay than their juniors

Read Order: D.N. Asija and Others v. Union of India and Others

Monika Rahar

Chandigarh, February 18, 2022: While dealing with the case of irregularities in the payment structure of defence services personnel, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Union of India and other respondents to take appropriate steps in removing the said anomaly in the pay scale within a period of six months from the date of passage of this order. 

The Bench of Justice Fatehdeep Singh stated in this respect that such irregularities in the pay scale were adversely impacting and affecting the morale of the Defence Forces. 

The said anomaly in payment structure occurred after the implementation of the 6th Central Pay Commission, as a result of which the personnel of the Defence from the rank of Major Generals and above, were drawing lesser pay than their juniors who were Colonels and Brigadiers. 

During the course of making submissions, the counsel for the respondents (Union of India and others) conceded to the fact the Ministry of Defence in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Personnel and Training was trying to resolve the pay anomaly. The respondents undertook to do the needful by resolving this issue in the shortest possible time. 

Thus, with this undertaking, the Court directed an appropriate action to be taken by the respondents in a time-bound manner (six months from the date of this order) to resolve the issue at hand.