Revision in pay not an inherent right: SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has observed that an employee cannot claim revised pay scales as a matter of right as it is for the authorities to decide whether to implement the revised pay scales or not.

"The question as to whether the scale of pay would be revised or not is a matter of policy decision for the State. No legal right exists in a person to get a revised scale of pay implemented.

"It may be recommended by a body, but ultimately it has to be accepted by the employer or by the State, who has to bear the financial burden," a bench of Justices S B Sinha and Cyriac Joseph observed.

The bench passed the observation while dismissing the appeal of A K Chandrashekar, who availed a voluntary retirement scheme, sought a direction to the Kerala Government to pay him arrears on the basis of the revised pay scales.