The Supreme Court, while expressing its displeasure over the retired district judges being paid 19,000 to 20,000 after a long service, sought the assistance of Attorney General (AG) R Venkataramani in a case dealing with the judges’ pension.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra on Monday termed it a very serious issue, noting that after spending a significant portion of their working lives in service to the judicial institution, the judges cannot suddenly jump to private practice post retirement.
The top court of the country further said that the judges were really disabled. It also took note of the fact that some High Court judges were not being paid pension after retirement, and asked the AG to look into the matter.
The AG, while assuring to look into the matter, said that it must be some High Court judges, not all, who were not being paid pension.
Earlier, the Apex Court had underlined the importance of enabling judges to live a life of dignity upon retirement, while hearing the same case.
The CJI had earlier stated that judicial officers spent the largest part of their working life in service of the judicial institution and did not take up benefits, which may be available to the other members of the Bar. The State must ensure that judicial officers upon retirement live a life of dignity.
The Apex Court had warned in November that contempt of court action would be taken against the Chief Secretaries of the States, which did not comply with its earlier directions to pay pension to district judges at revised rates from July 1 onwards.