Quick Summary: On December 3, 2025, the Delhi High Court reversed an earlier decision to throw out a case brought by Rita Solomon & others against the Republic of Italy and another party. The employees claimed they were not paid fairly. The court has now allowed the case to go to trial.
The case involves employees of Indian origin working at the Italian Embassy in New Delhi. They claimed they were paid less than their colleagues of Italian origin. They were employed under a rule that requires equal pay for similar jobs.
The case was initially thrown out on May 1, 2019, by a judge who decided that the complaint didn't have a valid reason to proceed. The judge thought that the differences in pay were justified by the cost of living.
From 1997 to 2012, the employees tried multiple times to address the issue by contacting the Italian Embassy and authorities in Rome. Despite promises, the pay gap continued. They eventually took legal action with permission from the Indian government in 2013.
Rita Solomon & others filed a lawsuit seeking recognition of discrimination and back pay of about Rs. 2.11 crore. The Embassy argued that the case didn't have a valid reason, citing reasons like citizenship and cost of living to justify pay differences.
Judges Anil Kshetrapal and Renu Bhatnagar looked into the case. They found that the initial judge dismissed the case too early without letting the employees show their evidence. They stressed that the case brought up important questions about equal pay and discrimination that needed a full trial.
"The complaint, on its face, does show a valid reason to proceed and must therefore be allowed to continue."
The court also noted that whether the employees were a group entitled to equal pay was a complicated issue that needed careful examination.
The Delhi High Court canceled the previous dismissal and brought the case back, allowing it to go to trial. This decision highlights the need to carefully look into claims of unfair pay and ensure fair treatment in jobs. The case will now continue in court, where Rita Solomon & others will have the chance to show their evidence and arguments.
