Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 1: Finally, the State Government has fully adhered to the Supreme Court directions by formally issuing SROs regarding implementation of recommendations of the Shetty and Padmanabhan Commissions for the benefit of Judicial Officers of the State, the deadline for which was December 3, 2012.
According to SRO 393 issued by G N Tantray, Secretary Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Sub-Rule (3) of Rule 1 of Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Officers (Allowances, Amenities and Advances) Rules, 2007 has been substituted in the light of Apex Court directions and the arrears of Shetty Commission recommendations would be paid to the Judicial Officers with effect from November 1, 1999.
Similarly, by amending Sub-Rule (1) of Rule 5, the Government has increased the electricity charges. Now, the Judicial Officers will be entitled to reimbursement of electricity charges of 50% of actual amount paid subject to maximum of Rs 700 per month as against the earlier ceiling of Rs 400 per month.
The Government has also amended Rule 7 and now the Robe Allowance would be payable to the Judicial Officers once in three years of actual judicial service as against earlier timeframe of five years. The State Government has already enhanced the Robe Allowance from Rs 5000 to Rs 6000. In order to increase the fuel entitlement the Government has inserted a proviso after Sub-Rule (1) of Rule 8 whereby fuel entitlement in respect of pool vehicles used by the Judicial Officers would be up to Rs 125 liters of diesel/petrol per vehicle per month as may be determined by the High Court as against earlier entitlement of 75 liters.
As far as medical allowance to retired Judicial Officers is concerned, the Government has substituted Rule 11 and now the retired Judicial Officers would be entitled to Rs 1500 per month as medical allowance. The family pensioners of a deceased Judicial Officer would be entitled to Rs 750 per month as medical allowance. Moreover, the retired Judicial Officers would be entitled to medical facilities at par with the in-service Judicial Officers.
Similarly, Rule 14 has been amended to ensure that Judicial Officer gets Concurrent Charge Allowance when he is placed in charge of another court continuously for a period not less than 10 days against earlier timeframe of 30 working days. Even the Domestic Help Allowance has been increased from Rs 1250 to Rs 2500 in the favour of retired Judicial Officers by suitably amending Rule 21.
According to SRO 394 issued by Iqbal Khandey, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department, the relevant Rule of the Jammu and Kashmir (Subordinate) Judicial Pay Rules, 2011 has also been amended to restore the position vis-à-vis posts in Super Time-Scale as it existed before issuance of SRO-244 of 2011 dated August 5, 2011.
Now under the revised Assured Career Progression, the District Judges may be entitled to the Super Time Scale of 70290-1540-76450 on merit-cum-seniority basis to the extent of 10% of the cadre strength of District Judges after having completed not less than three years continuous service as Selection Grade District Judges.
As per SRO 395 also issued by Iqbal Khandey, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department, amendment has also been made in Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Regulations.
The State Judicial Officers, who have rendered qualifying service of 20 years or more at the time of retirement on or after September 2, 2008 will be entitled to full pension and those having less than 20 years but 10 years or more will get pension on pro-rata basis, the SRO said.
With effect from October 1, 2012, the pensioners and family pensioners of the Judicial Officers would get the additional quantum of pension/ family pension. The pensioner/ family pension between the age group of 70 years to less than 75 years would get 10% of revised basic pension/family pension.
Similarly, the pensioner/ family pensioner between 75 years to less than 80 years age group would get 20% of revised basic pension and the pensioners/ family pensioners between 80 years to less than 85 years would get 30% of the revised basic pension/family pension.
The pensioners/family pensioners between 85 years to less than 90 years would get 40% of the revised basic pension and those between 90 years to less than 100 years would get 50% of the revised basic pension. The pensioner/family pensioner of 100 years age or above would get 100% of the revised basic pension/family pension.
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