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Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009
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Panel recommends three-fold salary hike for judicial officers

J. Venkatesan

Supreme Court seeks response of States and High Courts

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the response of State governments and High Courts to the three-fold pay increase recommended by the one-man commission of E. Padmanabhan, a retired judge of the Madras High Court.

For the entry civil judge (junior division), the minimum pay has been revised from Rs. 11, 775 to Rs. 36,235; for the civil judge (senior division) from Rs. 15,200 to Rs. 46,770; for the district judge from Rs.18,625 to Rs.57,310; for the district judge (selection grade) from Rs.20,800 to Rs. 63,995; and for the district judge (super time scale) from Rs. 23,850 to Rs. 73,370.

This has been determined on the basis of the report of the Justice Shetty Commission — the First National Judicial Pay Commission — consequent to the pay revision for High Court and Supreme Court judges.

As for the dearness allowance and city compensatory allowance, the commission said the recommendations of the First National Judicial Pay Commission, as ordered by the Supreme Court, were to be followed. It recommended a sumptuary allowance of Rs.1,500 for civil judges (junior division) and Rs. 2,300 (senior division); and Rs. 3,100 for district judges (all levels); Rs. 1,000 in medical allowance for all judicial officers; robe allowance of Rs. 5,000 once in three years; and Rs.1,500 in hill area allowance, both subject to approval by the Supreme Court.

The commission said the recommendations of the First National Judicial Pay Commission in respect of newspapers and magazine allowance, reimbursement of electricity and water charges in the ratio of 50:50 and conveyance allowance should be continued. It also recommended revised pension for retired judicial officers at 50 per cent of the minimum pay of the post held at the time of retirement, as revised from time to time, and there should not be any ceiling on the maximum pension.

A Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice B.S. Chauhan, after hearing amicus curiae in the All India Judges Association case, senior counsel Fali Nariman and counsel A.T.M. Sampath, posted the matter for further hearing on August 31.

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