The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed the Chandigarh Administration’s appeal against an order granting pay parity to teacher Suman Lata.(File Photo)The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the Chandigarh Administration against an order directing it to pay differential salary to a teacher of a privately managed school, observing that the administration had failed to point out “any single difference” between her case and that of similarly placed teachers who had already secured the benefit from the Supreme Court.A Division Bench of Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Amarinder Singh Grewal, in its order, also directed the administration’s Director School Education and the Education Secretary to remain present before the court on September 2.Earlier, the Single Bench allowed the petition filed by Suman Lata and recognised her claim of pay parity. The appeal by the Chandigarh Administration challenged this order.Lata had been working as a Political Science lecturer with Vedic Girls High School since January 2002. The school was receiving 95 per cent grant-in-aid from the Chandigarh Administration up to Class 10, while she was teaching Classes 11 and 12. Teachers teaching Classes 11 and 12 were not being paid salary according to their entitlement as there was no grant-in-aid for those posts.The high court noted that the issue had already attained finality before the Supreme Court in the Rajni Vali case, where directions had been issued to Chandigarh Administration to provide aid for such posts in privately managed institutions.The high court noted that when it asked the Chandigarh Administration’s counsel about the difference between Lata and Rajni Vali case, the counsel was not “able to point out any single difference”.“Once, it is a conceded position even in the appeal that there is no difference between the respondent No.1 (Suman Lata)… and Rajni Vali who has been granted the benefit by the Supreme Court of India, except respondent herein was not party to the said litigation, this court finds difficulty as to on what account, the judgment of the single judge is being impugned,” the bench held.Story continues below this adThe Bench further said the appeal had been filed “for the sake of litigating and in order to get a different view rather than implementing the settled principle of law”.“This shows that the Chandigarh Administration rather than being a welfare State is only litigating for the sake of litigation rather than avoiding litigation,” the order added.Referring to earlier Supreme Court and high court rulings, the bench reiterated that once a question of law has been settled, its benefit should be extended to similarly situated persons instead of forcing each individual to approach the court.The Bench raised the question whether the appeal was “bona fide or to harass a widow lady”.Story continues below this ad“This court finds that the litigation i.e. the present appeal is not bona fide for any valid reason but for the sake of appeal only which needs to be discouraged by imposing heavy cost on a person who has decided to file an appeal before this court,” the high court observed as it dismissed the appeal.The bench asserted that since the appeal has been filed under the affidavit of Nitish Singla, Director of School Education, Chandigarh Administration, the cost imposed upon should be paid by him. However, the high court granted him a hearing on September 2.The high court also further directed the Education Secretary to remain present and explain why an issue that had already been decided and attained finality was being “raked up again by filing appeals”.Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Punjab and Haryana High Court