STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH & ORS. ETC. ETC. vs G. SREENIVASA RAO & ORS. ETC. ETC.

The Supreme Court addressed whether the payment of a higher salary to a junior employee over a senior in the same cadre violates the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' under Article 39(d) in conjunction with Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The Court held that such salary disparities are discriminatory and contravene the principle of equality, affirming the High Court's decision to equalize salaries among Assistant Section Officers. The judgment emphasized that reasonable classification must be based on intelligible criteria with a nexus to the objective sought to be achieved.