The Supreme Court, on Thursday, announced its proposal to establish a two-judge panel in all high courts to oversee the implementation of orders pertaining to pay, pension, and other retirement benefits for judicial officers based on the recommendations of the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC). The Chief Justice of India (CJI), DY Chandrachud, leading the bench, disclosed that serving and former judicial officers would also receive cashless facilities for medical examinations.

Emphasizing the readiness of the judgment on this matter, the bench, including Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, conveyed its acceptance of the SNJPC recommendations, encompassing pay structure, pension, family pension, allowances, and the establishment of a permanent mechanism for determining service conditions in the district judiciary.

Providing insights into the impending judgment, CJI Chandrachud outlined the formation of a two-person committee in each high court, comprising judges, one of whom must have been elevated from the district judiciary. The committee, chaired by the senior-most high court judge nominated by the chief justice, aims to ensure the proper implementation of SNJPC. The registrar general of the high court will serve as the ex-officio secretary, with a former district judge acting as the nodal officer.

Addressing concerns about sub-standard hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, the bench suggested considering Central Government Health Scheme panel hospitals for cashless treatment of judicial officers. Notably, officers can avail themselves of cashless treatment in empanelled hospitals outside their native district if local facilities are inadequate for specific ailments.

Chief Justice Chandrachud granted flexibility to the committee to take incidental measures, such as empanelling hospitals outside the state for officers serving elsewhere. The committees are authorized to collaborate with the state health secretary for scheme implementation. The Chief Justice emphasized that the high courts would determine benchmarks for hospital empanelment, leaving the fine print to their discretion.

The high court committees are required to submit reports to the Supreme Court, through respective registrar generals, by April 7, detailing the status of SNJPC implementation. This development emerged from a plea filed by the All India Judges Association and others regarding the pay and service conditions of judicial officers. In a previous hearing on November 23, the bench granted states and Union Territories a final opportunity to settle salary arrears and other dues for district court judges in accordance with SNJPC recommendations, emphasizing the obligation to ensure dignified working conditions and human dignity post-retirement.

Case: All India Judges Association v. UoI And Ors.

WP(C) No. 643/2015.