March 28,2018:
On Tuesday, Supreme Court ordered a 30 percent hike in basic pay of judges of subordinate judiciary.
Apex Court Bench comprising of Justice Jasti Chelameswar and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul accepted the report submitted by Commission comprising Retired SC Judge, Justice P Venkatarama Reddy and Senior Advocate and Former Kerala High Court Judge, R Basant.
SC's direction came on a petition filed by All India Judges Union which had prayed for constitution of an All India Judicial Commission for reviewing service conditions of judicial officers of subordinate judiciary in India including pay scale, retirement age, pension and other emoluments.
On May 9, 2017, Supreme Court had constituted Commission comprising Justices Reddy and Senior Advocate R Basant and had laid down following terms of reference to be considered by Commission:
- To evolve the principles which should govern the structure of pay and other emoluments of Judicial Officers belonging to the sub-ordinate judiciary all over the country.
- To examine the present structure of emoluments and conditions of service of Judicial Officers in the states and UT’s taking into account the total packet of benefits available to them and make suitable recommendations including post-retirement benefits such as pension etc. having regard among other relevant factors, to the existing relativities in the pay structure between the officers belonging to sub-ordinate judicial services vis-a-vis other civil servant and mechanism for redressal of grievances in this regard.
- To examine the work methods and work environment as also the variety of allowance and benefits in kind that are available in Judicial Officers in addition to pay and to suggest rationalization and simplification thereof with a view to promoting efficiency in Judicial Administration, optimizing the size of judiciary etc. and to remove anomalies created in implementation of earlier recommendations.
- To consider and recommend such interim relief as it considers just and proper to all categories of Judicial Officers of all the 5 States/Union Territories. The interim relief, if recommended, shall have to be fully adjusted against and included in the package which may become admissible to the Judicial Officers on the final recommendations of the Commission.
- To recommend the mechanism for setting up of a permanent mechanism to review the pay and service conditions of members of sub-ordinate judiciary periodically by an independent commission exclusively constituted for the purpose and the composition of such commission should reflect adequate representation on behalf of the judiciary.
Commission had submitted its report earlier this year suggesting 30 per cent increase in basic pay.
Hike has to be implemented with effect from May 1, 2018. Deadline for implementation is June 30, 2018.
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