SC Orders One Rank One Pension for Ex-HC Judges

THE SUPREME COURT on Monday directed uniform pension benefits for all retired high court judges, irrespective of their mode of appointment or tenure, saying "one rank one pension has to be the norm in respect of a constitutional office".

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justices Augustine George Masih and K. Vinod Chandran held that any classification in pension benefits based on whether judges came from the bar or district judiciary, or whether they were permanent or additional judges, was discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.

"One rank one pension has to be the norm in respect of a constitutional office," the CJI, writing a 63-page judgment, said.

Dealing with six issues over the disparity in pensionary and other retiral benefits to high court judges, the top court ruled that they must be granted pensions calculated at a basic annual amount of ₹13.50 lakh whereas the retired chief justices would be entitled to ₹15 lakh per annum.