In Brief
A retired Army Brigadier who served as Chief Engineer in the Military Engineering Services claimed he should receive the same grade pay as civilian Chief Engineers. The Supreme Court rejected this claim, holding that Army personnel form a distinct class from civilians and are explicitly excluded from the rules governing civilian service conditions. Although the principle of equal pay for equal work applies to tenure-based appointments, the statutory rules governing civilian engineers specifically exclude military officers appointed on tenure. The Court upheld that military officers retain their rank-based benefits and cannot unilaterally claim civilian service entitlements.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.