The Supreme Court has upheld the order of the Tripura High Court, directing the State Government to pay former judge of the Gauhati High Court, Justice Alok Baran Pal, remuneration at the rate of a High Court judge's salary, minus the pension, for the period he served as Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board (NSA Advisory Board). The court clarified that this ruling should not set a precedent for future cases.

Justice Pal had approached the High Court, claiming that he had not received any payment for his role as Chairman of the NSA Advisory Board from 1st February 2016 to 30th November 2018. He argued that during this period, he solely held the position of Chairman of the Board and should have been compensated accordingly.

The State Government had contended that Justice Pal had not raised any claim for remuneration during the aforementioned period and had only done so after being excluded as Chairman when the Board was reconstituted.

After a series of legal proceedings, a division bench of the Tripura High Court ruled in favor of Justice Pal, directing the State to pay him remuneration at the rate of a High Court judge's salary, reduced by pension, for the relevant period.

The State appealed this decision before the Supreme Court, which upheld the High Court's order and granted Justice Pal the rightful remuneration. However, the Supreme Court specified that the comments made by the High Court against the State should not be construed as reflecting the government's actions.

The Supreme Court's ruling ensures that Justice Alok Baran Pal will receive fair compensation for his service as Chairman of the NSA Advisory Board during the specified period.

Case Title: State of Tripura V. Justice (Retd.) Alok Baran Pal, Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No(s). 34826/2022

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