The Delhi High Court has pulled up the Centre for “not doing anything” on the proposal sent by the AAP government for revision of pay scales of public prosecutors of the district courts here.
“You (Centre) are not doing anything on the proposal,” Justice J R Midha said, adding the revised salaries are to be paid by the Delhi government then why the central government was not giving its go ahead to it.
“The manner in which the file is moving, shows that the Centre is not interested in doing anything,” it said, adding the file was sent to the LG in September last year, after which it was sent to the President of India for his approval as the Delhi government does not have power to decide service related issues.
“This is a minor thing, You resolve it,” the court advised Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, who appeared for the Centre.
The Judge said he was “disturbed” after reading the file, as the Centre had put hundreds of objection in it, which was “not warranted”.
The judge also asked why the Finance Ministry was sitting over the file since six months.
Delhi government counsel Rahul Mehra submitted that they had sent the cabinet note in December last to the LG approving hike in the salary of the prosecutors.
Mehra contended that the LG has put a stay on the proposal and sent it to the President on the ground that service matters do not lie in Delhi government’s domain.
The court was hearing a petition filed through advocate Ashish Dixit seeking contempt action against Home Secretary for not complying with the court’s September 9, 2015 order.
The court in its September 2015 order had directed the Delhi government that the decision to increase the pay scales of Delhi public prosecutors be implemented without any delay.
( Source – PTI )
Salaries, not only of public prosecutors but also of all the people in the judiciary need to be revised upwards so generously and liberally that they cannot be bribed by any one. Of course, then it will be only appropriate for these authorities to be free and fearless in discharge of their duties. Also, such approach on salaries should be in respect of the police. It is unethical in the first place to expect the police to be honest and above corruption when they are not getting appropriate salaries and other benefits. Judiciary and the Police are the fundamental, key areas where this approach must be adopted.