The Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld the Single Judge's order directing the Animal Husbandry Department to grant veterinarians the same benefit of time-scale pay as Dental Surgeon, Medical Officer. [2026 LiveLaw (MP) 373]

Time-scale pay is that remuneration which increases with periodical increments from minimum to maximum in a pay-scale.

The division bench of Justice Anand Pathak and Justice BP Sharma referred to the statement of Will Rogers, a famous America cow-boy humorist and social commentator, that "the best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can't ask his patient what is the matter. He is just got to know."

The bench noted,

"Since Animal Husbandry in State of M.P. has taken a shape of industry and diary Farms/Goatry Farms, various animal vaccination drives and diseases are tackled by veterinarian . They are in touch with more than 80% of the village people and majority of the population are dependent on various products coming through these routes. Therefore, their services cannot be discounted in any manner. Resultantly, in the considered opinion of this Court, learned writ Court has rightly passed the impugned order while granting benefit of time scale of pay to respondents at part with Medical Officers and Dental Surgeons".

The counsel for the State argued that the qualified Veterinary Assistant Surgeon/Veterinary Surgeon working in Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department are governed by a different set of rules, whereas Medical Doctors or Dental Surgeons working under Health and Family Welfare Department are governed under a different set of rules. Therefore, the respondents could not have sought parity, and thus the order of the Single Judge should be set aside.

The respondents contended that, per the notification of January 24, 2008, which listed the upgradation and grant of time scale of pay to employees working as civil servants in various departments. Thus, MP, being a Model Employer, cannot discriminate between its employees in granting the same benefit.

The division bench emphasized that Veterinarians have to treat a patient without it being able to explain its symptoms. The bench held that their job appears to be tough and requires special and robust skill sets. Whereas doctors treating humans have the benefit of their patients being able to explain their symptoms.

Regarding the service conditions, the court noted that the State itself treats Veterinary Surgeons on par with Medical/ Dental Surgeons while granting lay and other benefits. Therefore, it cannot discriminate in granting a higher pay scale to both sets of doctors.

The bench further highlighted:

"Petitioner (respondents) has specifically mentioned the fact that all these services (Dental Surgeon, Medical officer, Veterinary Surgeons) carry equal pay, which has not been rebutted by counsel for respondents in their reply. Even otherwise, all three professionals are healers of society. First set of doctors heal human beings and veterinarian heals animals, which are voiceless beings, therefore, no distinction can be made".

The bench further emphasized that the State, being an employer, cannot discriminate between two services rendering the same nature of jobs but to different target groups. Thus, the bench upheld the Single Judge's order and dismissed the appeal.

Case Title: State of MP v Vishnu Kumar Gupta, WA-1301-2026

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (MP) 373

For Petitioner: Additional Advocate General Janhavi Pandit

For Respondents: Advocate Manikant Sharma

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