New Delhi, Nov 20: The Supreme Court has sounded a caution that if the needs of the high courts were not met by the state governments, a severe crisis would result in their administration as these courts perform a special nature of work. The observation came from a bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu, Justice D M Dharmadhikari and Justice G P Mathur while directing constitution of a special pay commission for fixation of pay scales for employees of the Calcutta High Court.

"The government will have to bear in mind the special nature of work done in the high court of which the Chief Justice and his colleagues alone could really appreciate," the bench said.

"If the government does not desire to meet the needs of the high court, the administration of the high court will face severe crisis," it added.
The bench noted the same while disposing of a petition filed by the High Court Employees Welfare Association, Calcutta, challenging refusal of the governor of West Bengal to grant approval to the draft Calcutta High Court service rules, 1998 exercising his powers under article 229(2) of the Constitution.

Bureau Report