Law researchers of judges play critical role: Delhi High Court seeks State response on plea to implement pay hike

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the response of the Delhi government to a plea filed by thirteen legal researchers - attached to offices of High Court judges between 2018 and 2025 - seeking implementation of a 2023 decision to increase their monthly remuneration [Rushant Malhotra & Ors. Vs The Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors]..A Bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta said that law researchers play an important role in the justice dispensation system. "They prepare case briefs, conduct research and are expected to stay abreast with the latest developments in law. Owing to the quantum of work that Judges have to deal with on a daily basis, Law Researchers are also required to stay late hours everyday and also usually work on weekends and holidays. Prima facie, the Delhi Government ought to consider the approved enhancement by the Court and take a decision in an expedited manner," the Court opined.The Court further noted that the remuneration of law researchers was increased to ₹80,000 by the Chief Justice in 2023 and approved by Delhi High Court but the same has not been implemented yet by the government.Hence, the Bench issued notice to the government and sought its response."Issue notice to the respondents. Short affidavit is to be filed," the Court said.The matter will be heard next on August 21..Earlier, two judges, Justices Navin Chawla and Ajay Digpaul, had recused from the matter citing conflict of interest..In August 2023, the then Chief Justice of the High Court had approved the recommendation to raise the monthly renumeration of law researchers from ₹65,000 to ₹80,000 with effect from October 1, 2022.Thereafter, in September 2023, the Joint Registrar of the Delhi High Court conveyed the decision to the Delhi government.According to the plea, the decision is still pending with the government.The petition has been filed by Rushant Malhotra and others..The petitioners have sought directions for implementation of the Chief Justice’s decision with effect from October 1, 2022 along with arrears and interest at 18% per annum till the realization of the amounts. As per the plea,“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 chosen not to clear the decision of the Delhi High Court. .Senior Advocate Ankit Jain with advocates Abhishek Taneja, Aditya Chauhan, Sahil Sharma, Shashank Agarwal, Apurva Tyagi, Bhavya Khatreja and Surya Sirohi appeared for the petitioners. Senior Panel Counsel Avshreya Pratap Singh Rudy with advocates Usha Jamnal and Harshita Chaturvedi appeared for Delhi Government. Standing Counsel Radhika Bishwajit Dubey with advocates Gurleen Kaur Waraich and Vivek Sharma appeared for the Delhi High Court. [Read Order]