Equal Work, Unequal Pay: Gujarat Professors Win Supreme Court Battle After Years of Struggle

Equal Work, Unequal Pay: Gujarat Professors Win Supreme Court Battle After Years of Struggle

Last Updated Sep - 04 - 2025, 11:24 AM | Source : Fela News

Contract professors in Gujarat finally gain pay parity with regular peers following years of legal and emotional fight.

For over a decade, many contract-based assistant professors in Gujarat’s engineering and polytechnic colleges carried the same academic responsibilities as their regular peers teaching, mentoring, conducting lab work yet were paid a mere ₹30,000 per month, with no increments or benefits. In stark contrast, regular and ad hoc professors earned between ₹1.2 lakh and ₹1.4 lakh per month. The disparity drew national attention and condemnation, especially from the Supreme Court, which described the situation as a travesty “chanting ‘Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu’ is meaningless if teachers are paid a pittance.” 

Fed up with the injustice, over 450 contract professors initiated a legal battle anchored in the principle of “equal pay for equal work.” Initial victories at the Gujarat High Court level were followed by appeals and reversals until the Supreme Court stepped in. In its ruling on August 22, 2025, a bench led by Justices Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi firmly reinstated that these professors deserve the minimum pay scale of regular ASNISTANT PROFESSORS, including arrears with 8% interest backdated three years from the filing of their petitions.

The verdict was more than a legal win it was a validation of dignity and unwavering perseverance. Many of these academics, including R. L. Parmar and Naitik Gor, had endured financial strain and uncertainty despite their qualifications and contributions. Their relief was palpable: “We have finally got justice,” one professor shared. 

This landmark decision underscores a vital truth: when it comes to educators those who nurture minds and shape futures formal recognition must be matched by fair wages. It's not just about equality in statute it's about respect in reality.

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