MEWA RAM KANOJIA vs ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES & ORS.

The Supreme Court ruled that the principle of 'Equal pay for equal work' under Article 39(d) cannot be applied uniformly across all services, particularly in professional fields where classification based on qualifications and responsibilities is permissible. The petitioner, a 'Hearing Therapist', claimed discrimination in pay compared to 'Senior Speech Pathologist' and others, but the Court upheld the distinction made by the respondents, affirming that the duties and qualifications of the posts were not equivalent. Consequently, the petition was dismissed, and the existing pay scales were maintained.