"I told the Finance Minister (P Chidambaram) that my recommendations will displease everybody... A judgment which displeases everybody is a good judgment", he told PTI after submitting the recommendations. And as a lawyer, Chidambaramn agreed, the pay panel chairman quipped.

Srikrishna said that given the monetary constraints, it was not possible to please everybody, even though "you want to give more".

"I displeased everyone by giving little (salary hike) to everybody," he said. But, the Commission has focused on increasing the efficiency of the government machinery through a variety of recommendations, he said. 

When asked whether the government will have adequate resources to implement the Sixth Pay Commission report, Srikrishna said the government has enough "head-room...We have worked out the report after taking into account government finances and working group recommendations."

Pointing out that the commission was not influenced by the forthcoming general elections (due early 2009), he hoped the government would implement the report. "I hope the government would implement the report in its entirety", he said.

Replying questions on the decision of the Sixth Pay Panel to increase the ratio between lowest grade and highest grade from 1:10 to 1:12, he said, "the ratio has to change as things have changed".

Stating that there was nothing sacrosanct about the ratio, he said it could be as low as 1:5 or as high as 1:100.

Pursuant to the recommendations of the Pay Panel, the difference between the government employees at the lowest rung and officials drawing high salaries will increase.

Srikrishna, however, pointed out that the government employees at the lower level will benefit as all those in Grade D will move to Grade C. "We have to encourage multi-skilling and multi-tasking in the government", he said.

The Commission, he added, also suggested introduction of the performance-linked pay by providing for higher increment for those officers who do well. As against the normal increment of 2.5 per cent of pay (including grade pay), the officials who excel will receive an increment of 3.5 per cent.

As it was not possible to suggest a general criteria for good performance, he said the concerned ministries and departments will work out their own parameters for judging the performance.