Agartala, Jan 13: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday said the state government has not taken any decision yet on the recent Tripura High Court ruling that struck down the five-year fixed pay tenure for government employees as unconstitutional. The court directed that employees must receive regular pay scale benefits from the first day of service and ordered arrears to be cleared within a stipulated period.

Responding to media queries, Dr. Saha stated that discussions are underway at the “appropriate levels” with ministers and senior officials to determine the next course of action. He clarified that the current government did not introduce the fixed pay system, which was implemented by the previous regime. “It has both advantages and disadvantages. Nothing was done without reason, and there must have been some justification behind adopting such a method,” he remarked.

On whether the state is considering filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the verdict, the Chief Minister said, “It is yet to be decided.”

Addressing demands from SSA teachers to withdraw the SLP already filed by the government, Dr. Saha stressed that the matter is complex and cannot be resolved through unilateral decisions. “States like ours face perennial resource constraints. Any hasty move could prove detrimental. The government also has to survive,” he cautioned.

The remarks come in the backdrop of the High Court division bench’s order that abolished the fixed pay system for newly recruited employees and mandated immediate implementation of regular pay scales.