To attract talent, judicial service must provide secure and dignified working conditions: Supreme Court.

Overview: The Supreme Court emphasizes that in order to attract talent to the judicial service, it is essential to provide working conditions that ensure both security and dignity.

In a case involving the implementation of the Second National Judicial Pay Commission's recommendations, the Supreme Court stressed the State's duty to provide dignified working conditions for judicial officers. The Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that such conditions are essential for judicial independence.

The judgment highlighted the demanding nature of a judicial officer's role, which often extends beyond regular working hours and involves administrative tasks, case preparation, and judgment writing. To attract talent to the judiciary, the Court emphasized that service conditions, both during and after retirement, must ensure security and dignity.

Court Advocates for Improved Work Environment to Enhance Recruitment and Retention

The Court also set a deadline of February 29, 2024, for States to pay arrears to judicial officers based on the commission's recommendations. It directed the High Courts to form a "Committee for Service Conditions of the District Judiciary" to oversee implementation, comprising two High Court judges, the Law Secretary/Legal Remembrancer, the Registrar General of the High Court, and a retired District Judge as a nodal officer for grievance resolution.

The judgment underscored the link between judicial independence and the dignified conditions of service for judges, both during their tenure and post-retirement, stating that these conditions play a crucial role in preserving the faith of citizens in the rule of law.

[Case Title: All India Judges Association v. UoI And Ors. WP(C) No. 643/2015 Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (SC) 25]