The Delhi High Court has underscored the vital contribution of nurses in hospital settings and stressed the necessity of providing them with fair compensation. The Court has approved the Petition and reaffirmed the principle of ensuring that individuals receive equitable remuneration for similar work.

The Bench, consisting of Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, expressed before concluding the case that nurses employed in hospitals render a highly valuable humanitarian service. They perform a wide range of responsibilities, which include aiding doctors in treatment, providing personal care to patients, and occasionally managing the concerns of bystanders and patients' relatives. They cater to the requirements of the unwell within the often highly stressful hospital environment. It would be unjust if these individuals were not provided with fair compensation for their services, as they rightfully deserve it.

A Petition was submitted to contest the decision of the Central Administrative Tribunal, which had previously rejected the Application filed by the Petitioners. The Petitioners were seeking equivalent compensation and benefits to those received by other staff nurses employed by the Respondents.

The Court examined the issue, “whether the petitioners are entitled to the same pay that is being paid to regular employees in AIIMS.”

The Court acknowledged that the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' is relevant to the circumstances of this case. The Court cited the Supreme Court's decision in the case of State of Punjab v. Jagjit Singh and others [(2017) 1 SCC 148] as a reference.

Additionally, the Court stressed the vital role of nurses working in hospitals. The Court delineated the wide range of services offered by nurses, which encompass aiding doctors in administering treatments and attending to the needs of the families of the patients who are unwell.

As a result, the Court issued an order instructing the Respondent to provide the Petitioner with a salary at the minimum level of the pay scale for the respective position, in addition to Dearness Allowance, within a period of three months. In accordance with this decision, the Court granted approval to the Petition.

Case: Sita Mundu & Anr v All India Institute of Medical Sciences, W.P.(C) 6282/2016.