Formed After Supreme Court Intervention, Panel to Set Uniform Post-Retirement Benefits for High Court Judges by November

The Centre has constituted a three-member committee to frame uniform guidelines for post-retirement benefits available to former Chief Justices and High Court judges. The move follows the Supreme Court’s intervention over differences in facilities provided to retired judges across states.

The proposed guidelines are expected to cover a range of post-retirement facilities, including domestic help, drivers, telephone expenses and cashless medical treatment. The issue came before the Supreme Court after concerns were raised over the wide variation in benefits available to retired High Court judges depending on the state concerned.

In its July 20 order, the Supreme Court-led bench highlighted that basic post-retirement facilities should not vary significantly from one state to another. The court specifically referred to facilities such as domestic assistance, drivers, telephone services and medical treatment.

The three-member panel will work towards establishing a common framework for these benefits. Its recommendations are expected to provide greater uniformity in the facilities available to former Chief Justices and judges of High Courts.

Another important issue before the committee is the financial responsibility for these post-retirement benefits. The Supreme Court has indicated that both the Union government and state governments have a role in meeting the expenses.

Describing the Union government as a “vital stakeholder”, the Supreme Court said in its July 20 order that the financial burden should be shared between the Union and the states in a defined and proportionate manner.

The committee is expected to frame the guidelines by November. The exercise could establish a common approach for post-retirement benefits across High Courts and address differences that currently exist between states.

The issue is significant because retired High Court judges may receive different facilities depending on the state in which they served. A uniform framework could provide clearer rules regarding the nature of benefits as well as the responsibility for funding them.

The committee’s recommendations will therefore address both aspects of the issue — what facilities former High Court judges should receive and how the costs associated with those facilities should be divided between the Centre and the states.