Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha.
The Bill proposes to bring clarity concerning the date in which a retired judge becomes eligible for an additional quantum of pension or family pension on attaining a particular age. The bill further deals with the amendment of the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act,1954 and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act,1958.
In 2009, two laws were amended to provide that every retired judge or after his death, the family, will be entitled to an additional quantum of pension or family pension.
The statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill reads:
“Subsequently, the High Court of Madhya Pradesh also, vide its order dated December 3, 2020, passed in writ petitions filed by the Association of Retired judges of Supreme Court and High Court of India, has directed respondent Union of India to construe the word ‘from’ as it appears on the slab under section 16 B of the 1958 Act and Section 17B of the 1954 Act as the first day of entering the minimum age of the slab-80,85,90,95 and 100 years along with other consequential benefits to the petitioners.”
The Bill seeks to amend the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954, and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958. The salaries and conditions of service of the judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court of India are regulated by these Act.