HC notice to Centre over pay discrimination

The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the government and the central pension accounting office over deduction of pension from the salary of former bureaucrats appointed as members and chairman of various commission and regulators.

Admitting a petition filed by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman Berjinder Singh, a division bench comprising Justice M B Lokur and Justice A K Pathak today issued a notice to the government and pension office directing them to file a reply.

In his petition Singh said the government rule of deducting pension received by him from his salary was against the fundamental rights.

"It has led to a situation where the petitioner as chairman of DERC is getting much less salary for services rendered in the commission, in comparison to the salary drawn by the members of the commission," said Singh in the petition.

According to Singh, both members and the chairman have almost similar responsibilities and the pay discrimination violates the principle of 'equal pay for equal work'.

"If at all, the responsibilities of the Chairman as Chief Executive Officer of the organisation are more than that of the member ...Then it is violative of the principle of "equal pay for equal work," he submitted. The court has listed the matter on January 12 for next hearing.