State Bank Of India And Ors vs K.P. Subbaiah And Ors on 16 July, 2003
19. One thing is clear from the above OM dated 19th July 1995. It was not only the
total of the basic pay, DA, and fitment amount as of 1st January 1992 that was
protected but also the personal pay wherever applicable "along with the basic pay."
The clarification issued on 6th February 1996 by Respondent No. 2 to the effect that
personal pay would also be counted as „pay‟ for the purpose of DA is also
significant. This is consistent with the law explained by the Supreme Court in State
Bank of India v. K.P. Subbaiah that (SCC, p. 655): "when a question of pay
protection comes, the basic feature is that the fitment or fixation of pay in a
particular scale must be such as to ensure that the total emoluments are not
reduced." In the context of the present case, last drawn pay cannot be narrowly
construed as last drawn „pay scale‟. The two are not the same. Under Fundamental
W. P. (C) No. 738 of 2004 Page 9 of 12
Rule 9 (21), „pay‟ is defined to include special pay and personal pay.