Second National Judicial Pay Commission recommends windfall for judicial officers; District Judge to get max pay of Rs 2.24 lakh, New Pension Scheme to be discontinued

The Second National Judicial Pay Commission submitted its final report on proposals to revise the pay, pension, and allowances of judicial officers across the country..The Commission was directed to be set up by the Supreme Court in May 2017, during the course of hearing the All India Judges Association case. The panel was tasked with examining the present structure of emoluments and conditions of service of judges of subordinate judiciary.The panel was headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice P Venkatarama Reddy and also had Senior Advocate and former Kerala High Court judge R Basant, and Vinay Kumar Gupta, District Judge of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service as its members..As per a press note issued on Thursday, the salient features of the recommendations made by the Pay Commission in its final report include the following..Junior Civil Judge/First Class Magistrate whose starting pay is Rs.27,700/- will now get Rs.77,840/-.The next higher post of Senior Civil Judge starts with the pay of Rs.1,11,000/-District Judge starts with a pay of Rs.1,44,840/-. The highest pay which a District Judge (STS) will get is Rs. 2,24,100/-.The percentage of Selection Grade and Super Time Scale District Judges proposed to be increased by 10% and 5% respectively.The revised pay and pension to be effective from January 1, 2016.Arrears to be paid during the Calendar year 2020 after adjusting the interim relief..Pension at 50% of last drawn pay, worked out on the basis of proposed revised pay scales is recommended with effect form January 1, 2016The family pension will be 30% of the last drawn pay.Additional quantum of pension to commence on completing the age of 75 years (instead of 80 years) and percentages at various stages thereafter are increased.The existing ceiling of retirement gratuity and death gratuity to be increased by 25% when the DA reaches 50%.Nodal officers to be nominated by the District Judges to assist the pensioners/family pensioners.Recommendation has been made to discontinue the New Pension Scheme (NPS) which is being applied to those entering service during or after 2004. The old pension system, which is more beneficial to be revived.The New Pension Scheme (NPS) for judicial officers has been the subject of challenges before the Delhi, Karnataka, and Bombay High Courts..Reduced Pension for Judicial Officers: Delhi HC issues notice in challenge.As per the press note, the existing allowances have been suitably increased and certain new features have been added. However, the City Compensatory Allowance (CCA) is proposed to be discontinued. Other recommendations made include:Improvement in the medical facilities and simplification of the reimbursement procedureMedical facilities to be granted to pensioners and family pensioners alsoCertain new allowances viz. children education allowance, home orderly allowance, transport allowance in lieu of pool car facility, have been proposedHouse Rent Allowance (HRA) proposed to be increased uniformly in all statesSteps to ensure proper maintenance of official quarters recommended..The recommendations made by the Commission are to be applicable to judicial officers throughout the country. These will be implemented once the Supreme Court gives appropriate directions in this regard, after hearing the stakeholders..[Read the Press Note]