Retired CJI to get chauffeur, domestic help, secretarial assistant for lifetime

On August 23, the Centre had amended the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958 for providing additional post-retirement benefits to CJIs and SC judges

In a fresh notification, the government has announced that a Chief Justice of India (CJI) will get a domestic help, a chauffeur, and a secretarial assistant for lifetime after his retirement.

The notification said the three staff would be deployed with a retired Chief Justice during his lifetime from the establishment of the Supreme Court or a High Court with full pay and allowances admissible to regular employees of the Supreme Court.

“A retired Chief Justice shall be entitled to a security cover round the clock at residence in addition to round the clock personal security guard for a period of five years from the date of retirement. A retired judge shall be entitled to a security cover round the clock at residence in addition to round the clock personal security guard for a period of three years from the date of retirement,” the notification said.

Watch | Justice Uday Umesh Lalit takes oath as 49th Chief Justice of India

The order was issued on Friday by the Department of Justice in the Union Law Ministry.

The notification said the Supreme Court Judges Rules have been amended again to extend more post-retirement benefits to retired CJIs and apex court judges. Earlier, the rules were amended on August 23.

The notification said, “If a retired Chief Justice or a retired judge is already provided with a higher-grade security on the basis of threat perception the higher-grade security already provided shall continue. A retired Chief Justice shall be entitled to a rent-free type VII accommodation at Delhi (other than designated official residence) for a period of six months from the date of retirement”.

Retired CJI and apex court judges will get ceremonial lounge facilities at airports, announced earlier this month, would continue.

Also Read | CJI U U Lalit intends to focus on three areas, including listing of cases in Supreme Court

“A retired Chief Justice or a retired judge shall be entitled to residential telephone free of cost and reimbursement of telephone call charges of residential telephone or mobile phone or broadband or mobile data or data card not exceeding Rs 4200 per month plus taxes," the notification said.

It further added, “The post-retirement benefits under this rule shall be admissible to the retired Chief Justice or the retired judge if no such facilities are availed from any High Court or from any other government body where the retired Chief Justice or a retired Judge has taken up any assignment after retirement”.

On August 23, the Centre had amended the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958 for providing additional post-retirement benefits to retired Chief Justices and Supreme Court judges.