Rana Pratap Singh vs Govt. Of Nct Of Delhi & Anr.

$~56
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Date of Decision: 15.05.2026
+ LPA 370/2026
RANA PRATAP SINGH .....Appellant
Through: Mr. Jai Wadhwa & Mr. Ronak
Karanpuria, Advocates.
versus
GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR. .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Sameer Vashisht- Standing
Counsel along with Mr. Raghvendra
Upadhyay- Panel Counsel, Ms.
Purnima Jain & Ms. Shivpa Taneja,
Advocates for Respondent Nos.1 & 2.
CORAM:
HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA
DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ ( ORAL )
CM APPL. 32911/2026 (Exemption)
1. Exemption is allowed, subject to all just exceptions.
2. The Application stands disposed of.
LPA 370/2026
3. Heard the learned Counsel for the Parties.
LPA 370/2026 Page 1 of 4
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:NEELAM
SHARMA
Signing Date:16.05.2026
15:42:15

4. This intra-Court Appeal seeks an exception to an order dated
17.04.2026 (“ Impugned Order ”) passed by the learned Single Judge
whereby W.P.(C) 2656/2025 has been disposed of permitting the Appellant
to file a written representation along with a copy of the Writ Petition and all
other necessary documents before the Registrar General of this Court.
5. It was further stipulated that if any such representation is made by the
Appellant, the same shall be placed before the concerned committee for
consideration.
6. The prayer made in the Writ Petition was for implementing the
revised wages for prison labour in terms of order dated 20.04.2023 by the
Office of the Commissioner (Labour) with effect from 01.04.2023 along
with payment of consequential arrears. The order dated 20.04.2023 passed
by the Commissioner (Labour) has revised the rates of minimum wages to
be paid to unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled categories of workmen in all
Scheduled Employment.
7. The order dated 20.04.2023, thus, owes its origin to the Minimum
Wages Act, 1948 and has to be applied and followed for the purpose of
payment of wages to all categories of workmen employed in the Schedule
Employment and, therefore, any such wages being offered to a convict
lodged in Tihar Jail employed in any Scheduled Employment cannot be an
exception.
8. In our opinion, direction for representation to be decided by the
committee of this Court does not appear to be relevant for the purposes of
adjudicating the prayer made by the Appellant while instituting the Writ
Petition.
LPA 370/2026 Page 2 of 4
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:NEELAM
SHARMA
Signing Date:16.05.2026
15:42:15

9. We may also refer to an order dated 04.12.2023 passed in W.P.(C)
8299/2023 which has been disposed of with a direction to the Respondents
therein to pay the revised minimum wages to the Petitioners of the said Writ
Petition with effect from the date when the minimum wages have been
increased and implemented in the GNCTD and not from 14.11.2023.
Paragraph No. 7 of the said order dated 04.12.2023 is extracted herein
below:
“7. Resultantly, the writ petition is allowed with a direction to the
Respondents to pay the revised minimum wages to the Petitioner
with effect from the date when the minimum wages have been
increased and implemented in the GNCTD and not from 14.11.2023
as mentioned in the status report.”
10. In view of the aforesaid, we do not see any reason as to why the
minimum wages being demanded by the Appellant in terms of the order of
Commissioner (Labour), dated 20.04.2023 cannot be provided to him.
11. Accordingly, the Appeal is allowed and the Impugned Order passed by
the learned Single Judge dated 17.04.2026 is hereby set aside. A direction is
issued to the Respondents to implement the order dated 20.04.2023 issued by
the office of the Commissioner (Labour), GNCTD with effect from the date
the minimum wages have been increased and implemented in GNCTD i.e.
with effect from 01.04.2023.
12. There shall be no order as to costs.
13. We direct that the payment of minimum wages in terms of order dated
20.04.2023 passed by the Commissioner (Labour) shall commence within a
period of two weeks from today and arrears of the same shall also be paid not
only to the Appellant but also to all other prisoners employed in Scheduled
LPA 370/2026 Page 3 of 4
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:NEELAM
SHARMA
Signing Date:16.05.2026
15:42:15

Employment, within a period six weeks. This Order shall be communicated
forthwith by Mr. Sameer Vashisht, learned Standing Counsel representing
GNCTD through all concerned.
DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ
TEJAS KARIA, J
MAY 15, 2026 / ‘A’
LPA 370/2026 Page 4 of 4
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:NEELAM
SHARMA
Signing Date:16.05.2026
15:42:15