Supreme Court Mandate for Uniform Facilities
In a significant directive, the Supreme Court of India has instructed the Central government to establish a committee tasked with creating uniform guidelines for the provision of facilities to retired High Court judges across the nation. This decision was made by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, who identified a notable disparity in the amenities offered to retired judges in different states.
The CJI underscored the inconsistency in support for retired judges, noting that while some states provide comprehensive facilities, others fall significantly short. Consequently, the Court deemed it imperative to implement a standardized policy. Given that the Union government allocates funds for these amenities, the Court mandated the formation of a committee to establish uniform guidelines within a fortnight.
Need for a Uniform Policy
In their ruling, the Bench emphasized the necessity of consistency, stating, “There can indeed be no doubt that these facilities must be ensured on a uniform basis, as there is no reason whatsoever for such amenities to vary from State to State.” The Court has urged the Union of India to form a committee that will not only lay down these guidelines but also define the mechanism for financial assistance.
The directive includes a timeline for implementation, requiring the committee to submit its recommendations to the Union government and present the same before the Court within three months from its inception.
Security and Other Concerns
Addressing additional concerns, Justice Joymalya Bagchi highlighted the importance of security for retired judges, suggesting that a police officer’s protection for five years is a reasonable measure, given the sensitive nature of the issues they have handled. Furthermore, CJI Kant criticized the inadequacy of current provisions for secretarial, security, and other necessary facilities, citing the paltry sum of ₹15,000 allocated for such services.
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The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing of this matter in three months, allowing time for the proposed committee to formulate and submit its findings.
