Ranchi, April 24: In a significant decision for the primary school teachers in Jharkhand, the state’s High Court has directed the government to implement equal pay for equal work, ensuring that teachers appointed in 2002-03 receive the same salary as their counterparts appointed in 2015.
The ruling, issued by Justice Sanjay Prasad, mandates that the government finalize its decision within the next eight weeks. Approximately 50,000 primary teachers across the state are expected to benefit from this landmark order.
The petition, filed by Dilip Pandey and other teachers, contested the salary disparity that arose after a revision to the state’s appointment manual in 2012. The petitioners argued that teachers appointed through the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JoPSC) in 2002-03 were granted a grade pay of 4200, while those appointed for classes 1-5 and 6-8 after the revision were allocated a grade pay of 4600, causing a significant pay inequality.
The teachers invoked the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which came into effect in 2009, to demand equal pay for equal work, arguing that the salary disparity violated the principles set forth by the law. The court has now ruled that all primary teachers should be compensated equally, regardless of their year of appointment.
Justice Prasad expressed confidence that the state department would take swift action, hoping that the teachers would not have to return to court for further relief. The court’s order ends the ongoing legal battle and provides clear instructions for the government to rectify the salary differences.
“The government should take a decision within 8 weeks and give teachers equal salary as the teachers appointed in 2015,” Justice Prasad remarked in his ruling.
This decision is seen as a major win for teachers in the state and highlights the ongoing efforts to address salary inequities in public sector employment.
