Domestic help for retired judges
Retired judges of the Supreme Court can now heave a sigh of relief. The Supreme Court has directed that retired judges can now hire domestic help at public expense. Each judge is entitled to appoint a domestic help and will receive full reimbursement of the cost.
Surviving spouses of the retired judges would also be entitled to the reimbursement.
The said domestic help will be appointed as a permanent employee of the court if he or she serves the retired judge or spouse for 10 years.
“Pathetic” for retired judges to stand in queue
The demand for reimbursement for domestic helps for judicial officers originated in the First National Judicial Pay Commission set up in 1996. The commission described retired judicial officers standing in queues to pay power and water bills a “pathetic scene, if not embarrassing”.
What about retired High Court judges and retired Babus?
The moot question is whether if it is “pathetic” for retired Supreme Court judges to stand in line to pay bills, whether the retired judges of the High Court and retired Babus stand on a different footing?
Will the taxpayers be asked to foot the bill for providing domestic help to these sections of the society as well?
Citizens outrage in social media
The new rule did not go down well with some sections of the public.
Amitabh Kant, the CEO of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), was very vocal in his criticism. He called it “Feudalism at its worst!”
Feudalism at its worst! Servants at Govt expense after retirement. If Hon SC does this Ministers/Tribunals/Civil servants will follow. pic.twitter.com/h55P9jm9D8
— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) November 30, 2016
The criticism by Amitabh Kant found support from other citizens:
@amitabhk87 Absolutely insane.Mylords want to enjoys on taxpayer's money even after retirement without any accountability.@mediacrooks
— mes que un club (@dumkadhiresh) November 30, 2016
@amitabhk87 this is horrendous..
— Ramesh Menon (@krameshmenon) November 30, 2016
@krameshmenon @amitabhk87 SC has turned from Law interpreting to being Law Makers. Has usurped Executive powers. 2morrow it may abolish LS.
— CHANDRA MOULI H (@HMOULI) November 30, 2016
@amitabhk87 @mediacrooks Laxman rekha is modified to luxury rekha!
— narasimhas (@Lotusfeetns) November 30, 2016
@amitabhk87 here all are fighting for money & there SC judges want luxury after retirement no wonder they never give judgement in career
— vinay goyal (@vinaygo03260194) November 30, 2016
@amitabhk87 People pay taxes for Nations Development,not for sharing hi society lifestyle bills of its servants.
— Abhishek Thakur (@itsthakurs) November 30, 2016
@amitabhk87 – sets a very bad precedent for other government officers and netas. They should stop having inflated notion about themselves
— MOTURU SATISH (@MOTURUSATISH) December 1, 2016
@amitabhk87 @suhelseth This shd never happen,otherwise the entire bureaucratic community will follow suit for sure,once you retire period
— Sumant N Tivary (@Tivary) November 30, 2016
@amitabhk87 @suhelseth this is ridiculous..as if judges dont earn enuf frm arbitration cases…the other day tey wr asking bunglows..???
— rishi reloaded (@rishimumbai) November 30, 2016
@amitabhk87 Atrocious. Mylord wants to be *Me lord* till eternity.
— T Ramindh (@TRamindh) November 30, 2016
@amitabhk87
Atrocious
This has gone beyond ludicrous really— randomthoughts (@gauravlavania) November 30, 2016
@amitabhk87 @rishibagree Disgusting. Judiciary is loosing it's already shaken credibility. ?
— indian_88 (@88_indian) November 30, 2016
Now, it has to be seen whether the uproar and outrage by citizens has any impact on the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
It is regrettable that the SC is framing laws which is in the domain of the Executive and the Legislature. The Govt. should not accept this Order and file a Petition before the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court. Govt. should not reimburse these expenses and let the SC pass whatever orders it likes. Income tax Act should also be amended to tax such reimbursement as PROFIT IN LIEU OF SALARY in the hands of the concerned Judge. Time has come to Impeach some judges for their extra constitutional act ?
Sir, it should not be a shame to stand in q to pay bills. On the other hand, it will give insight into what an ordinary citizen goes through which retired judges can share with their serving juniors.