In Brief
The Indian Navy Civilian Design Officers Association sought pay parity with Civilian Technical Officers following the Fifth Pay Commission. A tribunal and high court granted the parity, but the Supreme Court reversed this decision. The Court held that classifying posts and fixing pay scales is exclusively the Executive's domain, not the courts'. While "equal pay for equal work" is enforceable, it requires equal work of equal value. Here, the posts had different recruitment rules, qualifications, probation periods, duties, responsibilities, and promotional avenues, justifying the differential pay structure. Judicial review in financial matters is limited unless gross arbitrariness is proven. The Court quashed the tribunal's and high court's orders, reinstating the Fifth Pay Commission's recommendations.
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