The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central government to establish a high-level panel within two weeks to draft a uniform national policy on post-retirement benefits for retired high court judges, aiming to resolve significant disparities in the facilities provided across different states.
The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, ordered the proposed committee to submit its comprehensive report on the matter within three months. The directive was issued during the hearing of a contempt petition filed by Justice VS Dave, the president of the Association of Retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, which highlighted ongoing concerns regarding security and post-retirement facilities.
Addressing Regional Disparities
In its official order, the bench emphasized that the proceedings directly concern the variations in post-retirement benefits and services accessible to former high court judges and chief justices. The court noted that basic allowances and amenities—such as domestic help, drivers, telephone services, medical reimbursement, and the retention of government accommodation during travel—differ substantially from state to state.
According to the bench, this marked lack of uniformity prompted the retired judges’ association to initially petition administrative authorities before ultimately seeking judicial intervention.
Financial Feasibility Questioned
During the proceedings, Chief Justice Surya Kant raised critical questions regarding the financial feasibility of the current systems managed by state governments. He specifically questioned whether a monthly allocation of 45,000 to 50,000 rupees was practically sufficient for retired judges to employ both a professional driver and a security officer.
The Chief Justice suggested that the federal government establish a standardized set of norms and potentially offer matching grants to assist the states. He further warned that if the Centre failed to constitute the committee to address these issues, the court would step in to form one itself.
Government Commitment
Representing the Central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta agreed to the proposal, stating that the government encountered no difficulty in establishing the committee. He assured the bench that the administration would address the matter in accordance with the concerns and spirit expressed by the court.
The Supreme Court highlighted the Centre as a vital stakeholder in the resolution of the dispute, noting that any national framework developed by the committee would likely require the federal government to share the resulting financial burden with state administrations.
