New Delhi: The Supreme Court directed the Central Government to create a committee to ensure equal benefits across all States. The Court said retired judges should not receive different facilities depending on where they served. It stressed that all retired High Court judges deserve fair and uniform treatment after retirement.
Retired High Court Judge Post-Retirement Facilities: Supreme Court Directs Centre to Form Committee
The Supreme Court has ordered the Union Government to set up a committee within two weeks to prepare uniform guidelines for post-retirement facilities for retired Chief Justices and judges of High Courts.
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The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, said the committee must submit its recommendations to both the Central Government and the Supreme Court within three months of its formation.
Why Did the Supreme Court Issue This Order
The Court observed that retired High Court judges receive very different facilities in different States. Some States provide proper support, including security and staff, while others offer very little or no assistance. The Bench said such differences are unfair because judges perform the same constitutional duties regardless of the State where they serve.
Retired High Court Judge Post-Retirement Facilities: What the Committee Will Do
According to the Court, the committee will:
- Prepare uniform guidelines for post-retirement facilities.
- Recommend a common system for financial assistance.
- Suggest how the Centre and States should share the financial responsibility.
- Ensure equal treatment of retired High Court judges across India.
Court Says Uniformity Is Necessary
The Supreme Court said there is no valid reason for retired judges to receive different facilities from one State to another. The Bench emphasized that these benefits should be provided on a uniform basis throughout the country to maintain fairness and dignity for retired judges.
CJI Surya Kant Raises Concern
During the hearing, CJI Surya Kant pointed out that while some States provide adequate post-retirement support, others do not even offer basic facilities. He also questioned the low financial assistance provided in some States for secretarial services, security, travel and related expenses, saying such support should be realistic and consistent.
Security for Retired Judges
Justice Joymalya Bagchi highlighted the importance of security for retired judges. He observed that retired High Court judges continue to deal with the impact of sensitive cases they handled during service. Therefore, providing security for a reasonable period after retirement is justified.
Financial Responsibility
The committee has also been asked to recommend a mechanism for sharing the financial burden between the Central Government and the State Governments. This is expected to help create a sustainable and uniform system without placing the entire responsibility on one authority.
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