Notice to HP Govt over denial of Secretariat pay allowance to Court Manager

Shimla, Aug 9,

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued notice to the State Government over the denial of Secretariat pay allowance to a Court Manager, despite similar facilities being extended to Secretariat employees and judicial officers under the same notification.

The petition, filed by Neeraj Sharma, contends that he was initially appointed as a Court Manager on contract basis in May 2012 at a fixed monthly remuneration of Rs 40,000, later increased to Rs 45,000 in 2014. Following the Supreme Court’s 2018 directions in the All India Judges Association case, the State Government created 13 regular posts of Court Managers, and Sharma was absorbed into regular service in December 2022.

Sharma submitted that he sought Secretariat pay allowance on par with other employees in the High Court who are drawing the benefit, but his request was rejected by the authorities on July 4, 2024, without justification. He pointed out that judicial officers are already covered under the same notification, and cited a June 21, 2025 order in support of his claim.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma issued notice to the State Government on Wednesday, with Additional Advocate General Pranay Pratap Singh accepting notice for respondent No.1. Notice to respondent No.2 has been made returnable by September 22, 2025.