New Delhi, Nov. 6 -- Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna has said that government employees belong to a "privileged class" and suggested that they should be recruited on a contractual basis to ensure greater accountability. The remarks were made during a hearing concerning the non-payment of Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears to Punjab government employees, reported Live Law.

A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan was hearing a case arising from claims by government employees against the Punjab government over pending payments.

"Government servants must hereinafter come on contract basis. Then only they will have accountability. Three pages they type in a day. They don't want judicial department. They take recruit...