In Brief
Sub Fire Officers employed by the Punjab State Electricity Board sought parity of pay with Head Clerks, Head Clerk-cum-Divisional Accountants, and Internal Auditors, all categorized in Group XII. The High Court allowed their claim based on group placement alone. The Supreme Court reversed this, holding that mere placement in the same group does not establish entitlement to equal pay. Parity of pay requires wholesale identity in qualifications, recruitment mode, nature of duties, and responsibilities. The respondents failed to prove such identity. The Court emphasized that pay scale determination is an executive function and courts should not interfere without evidence of complete similarity between posts.
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