Y.K. MEHTA AND ORS. versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

Y.K. MEHTA AND ORS. versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

Staff Artists of Doordarshan, performing the same nature of duties as their counterparts in the Film Division and possessing similar qualifications, are entitled to the same pay scales. Discrimination in pay between such groups violates Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

Parties
Petitioners: Y.K. Mehta and Ors.; Respondents: Union of India & Anr.
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
26 August 1988
Procedural Posture
Writ Petition (civil) / Judgment on Merits
Outcome
Writ Petitions Allowed
Legal Topics
Equal Pay for Equal Work, Classification of Government Servants, Discrimination in Pay, Central Civil Services Rules, Directive Principles of State Policy
Service Law Constitutional Law Labour Law Equal Pay for Equal Work Classification of Government Servants Discrimination in Pay Central Civil Services Rules Directive Principles of State Policy

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Parties

Y.K. Mehta and Ors.

Petitioners

Union of India & Anr.

Respondents

Procedural Posture

Writ Petition (civil) / Judgment on Merits

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Doordarshan Staff Artists are Government servants
  2. 2 Whether they are entitled to parity in pay with their counterparts in the Film Division under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  3. 3 Whether the Government's order denying revised pay scales to certain categories of Doordarshan Staff Artists is discriminatory and violative of Articles 14 and 16

Ratio Decidendi

Staff Artists of Doordarshan, performing the same nature of duties as their counterparts in the Film Division and possessing similar qualifications, are entitled to the same pay scales. Discrimination in pay between such groups violates Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

Court Disposition

Writ Petitions Allowed

Orders

  • Petitioners declared Government servants.
  • Petitioners to be given new scales of pay matching counterparts in the Film Division, effective: Sound Recordists from 1.1.1978; Cameramen Grade-II from 1.8.1979; Lighting Assistants/Lightmen from 1.12.1983.