
The Supreme Court expressed concern on Monday regarding the inadequate pension provided to retired district judges, emphasizing that compensating them with only 19,000 to 20,000 rupees after years of service is unjustifiable. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud underscored the severity of the issue during proceedings on the pension scheme for judicial officers, urging the Union to address the matter promptly, as reported by Live Law.
Chandrachud highlighted the significant contributions made by these judges to the administration of justice and emphasized the challenges they face transitioning into other roles post-retirement, particularly at ages 61-62. He urged Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Union, to devise a fair resolution for retired judicial officers, emphasizing the genuine difficulties faced by district judges.
Additionally, Chandrachud raised concerns about certain High Court judges not receiving pension after retirement, as reported by Bar and Bench. He urged the Attorney General to investigate this matter, to which the Attorney General assured to look into it, noting that it might be applicable to some High Court judges, not all.
Previously, the court had issued directives regarding the compensation and service conditions of judges, incorporating recommendations from the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC). The court’s actions, reported by Live Law, included directives for states to settle SNJPC arrears by February 29 and for high courts to establish oversight committees for implementation.