Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Himachal High Court Grants Equal Pay After 35 Years
The Himachal Pradesh High Court considered a teacher’s long-running complaint about her salary.
She had been paid less than teachers doing similar work in other departments.
The court said she had similar qualifications and performed comparable duties.
She was originally interviewed for a tailoring job but was appointed as an art and craft teacher.
The court found that this difference in pay was unfair discrimination.
Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj cancelled earlier decisions that rejected her request.
The government must give her the proper revised pay scale.
However, she will receive back pay only for the three years before she filed her case.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court ruled that an art and craft teacher was entitled to equal pay with comparable teachers in other departments.
The court found that she had similar qualifications and performed comparable duties despite receiving a lower salary.
She had been interviewed for junior tailoring mistress but was appointed as an art and craft teacher in the Agriculture Department.
Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj quashed earlier orders that rejected her pay-parity claim.
The state was ordered to apply the revised pay scale, with arrears limited to three years before she filed the plea.
- Who
- An art and craft teacher, the Himachal Pradesh government authorities, and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj.
- What
- The High Court ordered equal pay and a revised pay scale for the teacher, while limiting arrears to three years before her plea.
- When
- The ruling was issued in an order dated September 25, 35 years after the teacher was recruited.
- Where
- Himachal Pradesh, India.
- Why
- The court found that she had similar qualifications and performed comparable duties to teachers receiving higher pay.
- Court
- Himachal Pradesh High Court
- Judge
- Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj
- Disputed pay scale
- Rs 1350-2400
- Job held
- Art and craft teacher in the Agriculture Department
- Original interview
- Junior tailoring mistress in the Rural Development Department
- Length of delay
- 35 years after recruitment
- Arrears
- Limited to three years before filing the plea