HC flags huge pay gap between Punjab, Haryana law officers; virtually summons top Punjab officials

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has flagged a “huge difference” in remuneration between law officers of Punjab and Haryana, directing the Advocate-General of Punjab to explain the disparity.

The court also asked the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Finance), Punjab, to join the proceedings through video-conferencing.

The directions came during the hearing of appeals filed by the State of Punjab relating to monetary and consequential benefits claimed by former law officers who had served as Assistant Advocate-General and Additional Advocate-General.

The Division Bench made it clear that the state had failed to satisfactorily explain the delay of more than 600 days in filing the appeals, observing that the applications seeking condonation of delay did not appear convincing.

“The delay in filing the appealing(s) had occurred partly due to the factum of review application being filed,” the State counsel submitted. But the Bench remarked that “the State has not been able to make out a case for condonation of delay. The application(s) for condonation of delay does not appear to be satisfactory.”

When the matter was taken up, the Bench noticed a significant disparity in the salaries paid to law officers in the two states, despite similar duties before the High Court.

Recording the observation, the court said, “It has come to our notice that there is huge difference in the salaries of the law officer(s) working in the office of Advocate-General, Punjab, and those who are working in the office of Advocate-General, Haryana. The nature of their duties and responsibilities appear to be identical as they are arguing the cases before various Bench(s) of this court.”

The Bench also reproduced the current remuneration structure in both states, noting that Punjab’s Additional Advocates-General receive around Rs 1.40 lakh per month, while their counterparts in Haryana draw about Rs 2.70 lakh, and Assistant Advocates-General in Punjab receive Rs 75,000 compared with around Rs 1.61 lakh in Haryana.

Considering the issue, the Bench directed that the state’s top legal and administrative officers must assist the court on the next date.

“We deem it appropriate to direct the Advocate-General, Punjab, to address us on this issue. The Chief Secretary, Punjab, and the Principal Secretary (Finance), Punjab, shall also be present in the court through video-conferencing,” the Bench ordered.

The directions were passed by a Division Bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda while dealing with the connected appeals.