The Central Government on Friday has notified further amendments to the Supreme Court Judges Rules, 1959 (Rules), inter alia, deploying a domestic help, a chauffeur and a secretary assistant to serve during their lifetime retired Chief Justices of India. The Supreme Court Judges would be entitled to lifelong domestic help and chauffeur after retirement. Earlier, the rules were amended on August 23 to provide for chauffeur and secretarial assistant to former CJI and SC judges for a period of one year after retirement. As of now, as per the latest amendment on August 26, these benefits have been made life-time.
The Centre has amended Rule 3B which deals with post retiral benefits of Supreme Court Judges, in exercise of the powers conferred to it under Sections 24(1), 24(2)(c) and 24(2)(f) of the Supreme Court Judges (the Salaries and Condition of Service) Act, 1958.
The 2022 amendment Rules, the Supreme Court retired judges would be entitled to a security cover round the clock at residence in addition to round the clock personal security guards for a period of 5 years from their date of retirement. The retired judges of the Supreme Court would be provided a similar security for a period of 3 years from retirement.
However, the CJI retired would be entitled to rent free Type-VII accommodation in Delhi for 6 months after retirement. The Supreme Court retired judges including the CJI would be entitled to protocol to extend courtesies at ceremonial lounges at airports. Thus, they would be entitled to a residential telephone and reimbursement for residential mobile/phone/mobile/phone data/broadband upto Rs. 4200 plus taxes per month.
Moreover, the above stated benefits would ensure to the retired CJIs and Judges of Supreme Court to that extent that they are not already availing similar benefits from any High Courts or the other governmental body where they have taken up assignments after retirement.