Ayurvedic pharmacists are entitled to revised pay scales and Grade Pay from 1 April 2006.

The petitioners, Ayurvedic pharmacists employed in government dispensaries, sought the pay scale of Rs. 5,200–20,200 with Grade Pay of Rs. 2,400 from their respective dates of appointment, together with arrears and interest

At the hearing, counsel for both sides submitted that the issue had already been decided in Harbansh Lal Kurrey & Ors. v. State of Chhattisgarh & Ors., WPS No. 3775 of 2026, and connected matters, by order dated 31 August 2026

Whether the petitioners were entitled to the revised pay scale of Rs. 5,200–20,200 with Grade Pay of Rs. 2,400 from 1 April 2006, rather than 1 January 2016, on the basis of the prior decision in Harbansh Lal Kurrey

Whether the petition should be allowed in terms of that prior decision

The Court applied its decision in Harbansh Lal Kurrey, which held that the petitioners in that case were entitled to the pay scale of Rs. 5,200–20,200 with Grade Pay of Rs. 2,400 from 1 April 2006, having regard to the Government order dated 22 July 2011, the Supreme Court’s decision in Jagjit Singh, the High Court’s decision in WPS No. 3453 of 2013, and the State’s extension of the same pay benefit to Pharmacist Grade-II employees in the Labour Department from 1 April 2006

The prior order directed consequential pay fixation and revision of other service benefits, with implementation within four months

The Court found that the facts and issue in the present petition were identical to those decided in Harbansh Lal Kurrey and saw no reason to take a different view

It therefore applied the relief granted in that decision, including the effective date of 1 April 2006

The respondents were directed to extend the pay scale of Rs. 5,200–20,200 with Grade Pay of Rs. 2,400 from 1 April 2006, with consequential benefits, including pay fixation and revision of other service benefits, within four months from receipt or production of a copy of the order