In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court has mandated the implementation of recommendations from the Second National Judicial Pay Commission, underscoring the imperative for the State to ensure dignified working conditions for judicial officers. The judgment, delivered by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra in the All India Judges Association Case, accentuates the link between dignified working conditions and judicial independence.
The court underscored the demanding nature of judicial duties, extending beyond regular hours, weekends, encompassing administrative responsibilities, case preparation, and judgment writing. Stressing the need for the judiciary to attract talent, the court emphasized that working and retired officers must be provided with conditions offering both security and dignity.
The court’s observations highlight the distinctiveness of judicial service, integral to the state’s functions and constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law. The judgment emphasized the arduous working conditions faced by judicial officers across the country, extending beyond court hours to cover administrative duties, legal service camps, and various responsibilities associated with the Legal Services Act 1987.
Judicial officers, often the first point of contact for citizens seeking dispute resolution, are burdened with extensive administrative functions, necessitating work on weekends and beyond regular working hours. The court dismissed financial burden arguments, asserting that the state’s affirmative obligation is to ensure dignified working conditions, crucial for judicial independence.
The judgment set a deadline of February 29, 2024, for states to disburse arrears to judicial officers as per the Second National Judicial Pay Commission’s recommendations. Additionally, the court directed High Courts to establish a ‘Committee for Service Conditions of the District Judiciary’ by February 29, 2024, to oversee implementation.
The committee, composed of two High Court Judges nominated by the Chief Justice (one with district judiciary experience), the Law Secretary/Legal Remembrancer, the Registrar General of the High Court (acting as the Committee’s ex officio Secretary), and a retired judicial officer nominated by the Chief Justice (serving as a nodal officer for grievance redressal), will play a pivotal role in ensuring the effective execution of the court’s directives.
This judgment, a clarion call for the revitalization of the judicial service, resonates as a milestone in the ongoing pursuit of securing both the present and future of the esteemed judiciary.
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