The Supreme Court on Monday said that retired district judges were not being given enough pension. The top court pointed out that retired district judges being paid 19,000 to 20,000 after such long service is not justified.
While hearing the matter of the pension scheme for judicial officers, the court urged the Union to find a solution, reported Live Law.
"It is a very serious issue, Attorney General. Retired district judges being paid 19,000 to 20,000 after such long service is not proper. They are really disabled," said Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
The Chief Justice said that these judges have substantially contributed to the cause of justice and at the 61-62 years they cannot suddenly jump into practice and go to the high court.
He requested the Attorney General (AG) R Venkataramani, representing the Union, to come up with a "just solution" for the retired judicial officers. "We want a just solution to this. The district judges are really suffering, you know," he said.
Chandrachud also pointed out that some High Court judges were not being paid a pension after retirement, reported Bar and Bench. "Some High Court judges are also not being paid. Look into this," said the Chief Justice.
"I will look into this, but it must be some High Court judges, not all," the Attorney General replied.
The court had earlier issued directions relating to the pay and service conditions of the judges, accepting the recommendations of the Second National Judicial Pay Commission's (SNJPC) recommendations, while the All India Judges Association matter, reported Live Law. Last month, the top court directed the states to clear the SNJPC arrears by February 29 and asked the high courts to constitute committees to oversee the implementation.
