Stand on pay hike sought

BANGALORE: The High Court directed the State Government on Thursday to explain its stand on the increase in salaries of High Court employees before August 19.The division bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri directed the government in the matter.The appellant, Nijaguni Karadigudda had moved the High Court challenging the dismissal of his petition by a single bench of the High Court. In 2007, a singlejudge bench had dismissed Karadigudda’s writ petition challenging a ruling of the Karnataka State Fifth Pay Commission, which had refused to include the recommendations of increase in pay scales.The matter was referred to the commission by the former Chief Justice of Karnataka N K Jain. Thereafter in 2007, Karadigudda filed a writ petition asserting that the then Chief Justice Jain had directed former Chief Minister N Dharam Singh to increase the pay scale of the High Court employees. No action was taken by the previous government.