Supreme Court Debates Judicial Pay and Pension Uniformity

The Supreme Court is currently examining a writ petition submitted by the All India Judges Association and retired Justice Ajit Singh from the Allahabad High Court, which underscores inequalities in judicial salaries and pensions.

A panel consisting of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih emphasized the importance of consistent service conditions to guarantee judicial autonomy.

Senior advocate K Parameshwar highlighted discrepancies in pensions, noting that some retired judges receive pensions as low as ₹17,000.

The Centre, represented by Attorney General R Venkataramani, contended that achieving uniform pensions necessitates constitutional amendments. In light of the 2nd National Judicial Pay Commission, the court is evaluating the possibility of fixed pensions under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).