The Centre amended the Supreme Court Judges Rules the second time in a week to provide chauffeurs (car driver) and domestic help for retired Chief Justices of India and Supreme Court judges for their entire lifetime.

Perks for Retired CJs

• Retired CJIs would also get secretarial assistants.
• The staff would be paid the salary and allowances of regular employees of the Supreme Court.
• The first series of amendments in the Rules on August 23 had allowed retired Chief Justices of India and Supreme Court judges chauffeurs, secretarial assistants and security cover only for a year.
• There was no mention of “domestic help”, who would be an employee in the level of junior court assistant.

What else?

• The judiciary had recently raised concerns about attacks on judges.
• Hence the benefit of 24-hour security cover has been extended to five years for retired Chief Justices and three years for retired judges of the Supreme Court.
• Besides, former CJIs and retired judges of the top court can get their monthly mobile phone and Internet bills reimbursed to the extent of ₹4,200.
• A retired CJI is also entitled to a rent-free Type VII accommodation, other than the designated official residence, in New Delhi for six months immediately after retirement.

Why such move?

• The government is one of the biggest litigants in the Supreme Court.
• There has been public debate on whether post-retirement benefits dangled by the government could influence the judicial work of serving judges.

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