STATE OF MAHARASHTRA vs ASSN.OF COURT STENO., P.A., P.S.

The Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court's decision granting equal pay to Court Stenographers, Personal Assistants, and Personal Secretaries, aligning their pay scale with that of Senior Personal Assistants to the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, as per the Fifth Central Pay Commission recommendations. The Court emphasized the principle of 'Equal pay for equal work' under Article 14 of the Constitution, affirming the entitlement to a pay scale of Rs. 10,000-15,200 effective from 1.1.1996. The Court rejected the State's contention that the High Court overstepped its jurisdiction under Article 226, affirming the High Court's authority to ensure parity in pay scales.