DY.DIRECTOR,SOCIAL FORESTRY DIVN. vs LAKSHMI CHANDRA

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's order directing the payment of minimum pay scale to daily wagers in the Forest Department, affirming the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' as established in State of U.P. & Ors. Vs. Putti Lal (2006) 9 SCC 337. The Court found that the appellants had willfully disobeyed the earlier directions regarding payment, thus justifying the contempt proceedings. The Court reiterated that daily wagers performing similar duties as regular employees are entitled to at least the minimum of the pay scale, excluding other benefits.