SUNIL SINGH Vs. THE STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard counsel for the parties.

(2.) This writ petition was preferred by certain Advocates who are practicing in this Court for framing guidelines for securing the interest of Junior Counsels to the State counsels in consonance with the State Litigation Policy. They alleged discrimination in the fee structure of Junior Counsels compared to the fee structure of Junior Counsels to the State counsels applicable in other High Courts. Certain Additional Public Prosecutors also joined them during pendency of this writ application vide order dated 17.09.2015 to espouse their grievances. The State came out with the Notification bearing memo no. 1414 dated 15.03.2016 issued by the Home, Prison and Disaster Management Department, whereunder a consolidated scale of fee to Additional Public Prosecutors working in this Court was revised to Rs. 1200/ - per day. The issue relating to the revision of fee of Junior Counsels working in this Court and also in relation to the Special Public Prosecutors working in this Court, however had not been addressed by them.

(3.) Taking note of the aforesaid Notification, and the submissions of the Learned A.A.G., the matter was adjourned on 16.03.2016 for the purposes of obtaining instructions on the revision in remuneration of the Junior Counsels and Special Public Prosecutors. After a number of adjournments, now Learned counsel for the State has produced a Notification dated 01.08.2016 of the Cabinet Coordination and Vigilance Department (Vigilance), Government of Jharkhand bearing memo no. 1580, whereunder the consolidated scale of fee of Special Public Prosecutors (Vigilance) in the High Court has been revised to Rs. 1500/ - per working day and for the Special Public Prosecutors (Vigilance) engaged in the Special Court of Vigilance to Rs. 750/ - per working day. This Notification have been brought into effect from the date of its issuance.