CAT seeks govt's reply on Delhi cops' pay hike plea

The petition filed by a Delhi police constable Babu Lal Mitharwal complained that though cops working in the country's capital were discharging onerous responsibility and working under stressful conditions, they have been put on a measly pay scale of Rs 3,050 to Rs 4,590.

It sought direction for grant of basic pay of Rs 13,500 as their initial pay and implementation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission at the earliest.

The CAT bench of Justice D P Sharma and Member Veena Chhotray issued notices to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the Delhi police commissioner, seeking their replies by July 30.

Mitharwal, whose present basic pay is Rs 7,830 along with a grade pay of Rs 2,000, said in the plea that the Finance Department of the Punjab government has revised the pay scale of Punjab police constables with effect from September 2011.

"Constables in Delhi and constables in Chandigarh police are identically situated in the matters of appointment, performing of duties and responsibilities etc yet Delhi police constables are being discriminated in the matter of pay fixation," said Mitharwal in his plea.

He further stated that the Punjab government had revised the pay scale of constables to Rs 10,300 to Rs 34,800 with a grade pay of Rs 3,200 and their initial pay being Rs 13,500 with a prospective effect.

The petitioner submitted that Delhi police constables should also be put on initial pay structure of Rs 13,500 and this can only be done by implementing the basic pay of Rs 10,300 to Rs 34,800 with grade pay of Rs 3,200.