Delhi High Court today directed the city government to pay the government lawyers their fees immediately and within two months after the bills have been raised, observing how can they be expected to perform efficiently if they are not paid on time.
A bench of justices Kailash Gambhir and Sunita Gupta gave the direction noting "it is not a happy situation" that bills pending upto July this year of Delhi government counsels and public prosecutors were paid only after the court's intervention.
On the issue of implementing the pay revision of Delhi government lawyers and public prosecutors as recommended by a Cabinet decision of city government on September 1, the court said if the Centre's approval was required, it should be given without delay.
"If no approval is required, then Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) is to proceed forward with the implementation of the recommendations," the court said.
"In case any further improvements in scale is required, same be also carried out by GNCTD without any further delay," it added and listed the matter on December 8 when the government has to show it has complied with the directions.
Meanwhile, Rahul Mehra, Delhi government standing counsel (criminal), told the court that the cabinet decision and note on upward of revision of pay was a step forward, but it needs to be revisited as some of the ceilings imposed on per day per case payment for the government lawyers were "not logical".
He also told the court that the cabinet has recommended providing various facilities, including laptops, manupatra and other software, wifi, stationery allowance or stationery as well as an internet plan costing upto Rs 1000 to the Delhi government counsels.
Regarding the pay revision, he said the recommended was to increase the pay of both civil and criminal standing counsels from Rs 20,000 per month to Rs one lakh per month. For additional standing counsel it would be Rs 90,000, he added.
