The Supreme Court has reiterated its orders to state governments and Union Territories across the country to pay all pending arrears of judicial officers by June 30 and file compliance affidavits by July 30, stating that the same have been positively credited into the accounts of the concerned officers.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice P.S, Narasimha on Friday further directed that the revised rates of pension, which have been approved by this Court, should be payable from January 1, 2023.
The Apex Court, while mentioning its orders of July 27, 2022 and January 18, 2023, said that 25 percent of payment of arrears of pension, additional pension, gratuity and other retiral benefits should be paid by August 31, another 25 percent by October 31 and the remaining 50 percent should be disbursed by December 31.
The top court of the country passed the orders on a petition filed by the All India Judges Association, pertaining to the pay hike of judicial officers as per the recommendations of the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC).
The Bench listed the petition for further hearing on July 17, stating that it would decide the recommendations on allowances in July.
Justice Narasimha authored the verdict, which highlighted the principles concerning the judiciary that had a direct bearing on its decision, while considering the recommendations.
Advocate-on-Record (AoR) Mayuri Raghuvanshi and Senior Advocate Gourab Banerji represented the All India Judges Association.
(Case title: All India Judges Association vs UoI and Ors)