New Delhi, Sept. 19 -- Doing the same work does not necessarily mean doing work of equal value, and that distinction can make all the difference when it comes to pay, the Supreme Court has ruled.

According to the court, an employee cannot claim equal pay merely by showing that another employee performs identical or similar duties. To establish a right to pay parity, the claimant must demonstrate broad parity on factors including the source of recruitment, educational qualifications, experience, the manner in which the appointment was made, and the nature of the responsibilities and accountability attached to the job.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu said that the law on "equal pay for equal work" has evolved from the ea...