Dt: 30/8/22
Justices these….
Dr T.H.Chowdary*
Susri Jayalalitha the once colorful Chief Minister of Tamilnadu died (5 Dec 2016) after a long illness while under treatment in a corporate hospital in Chennai. There were doubts as to whether the death was the result of a conspiracy by a confidant of hers. To probe the causes of death a Commission headed by a retired Judge, Sri A Arumugasamy was appointed. The venerable judge submitted a 500 page report on 27 Aug 2022 to Thiru M K Stalin , Chief Minkster of Tamilnadu. The five year long inquiry saw 14 extensions ! During its long period the Hon’ble Judge has several perks all at government expense.
2. Sri Manmohan Singh Liberhan the former Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court who was appointed as a Commission of Inquiry on 16/12/1992 to inquire into who were responsible, who conspired to demolish the Babri structure in Ayodhya on 6 Dec 1992. After several extensions Js. Liberhan submitted the 1029 page report in Nov 2009 (that is after 17 years labour). This was debated in the Lok Sabha on the 22 Dec 2009.
3. During these long yeas ( 17 for Liberahan and 5 for Arumugasamy) the retired Hon’ble Judges received salary and other perks.
4. And now following Chief Justice of India Sri N V Ramana’s retirement (26-08-22) government has made life after retirement for the judges more comfortable. The retired CJI will get a rent free 6 months accommodation in Delhi ; round the clock security cover at home and a personal guard for 5 years for retired CJI and 3 years for retired Supreme Court judges. Further the government will bear upto Rs. 42,000 plus taxes per month as expenses incurred by retired Supreme Court judges including CJIs as charges for use of residential telephone mobile phones, broad band, mobile data …. That is not all. If they are travelling by air a retired CJI or Judge of the Supreme Court can make use of the ceremonial lounge facilities offered by airports across the country free of cost. If a retired CJI of the Supreme Court is already provided a higher grade security on the basis of threat perception, the higher grade security already provided would continue. These amended rules are made and promulgated on 23 Aug 2022, 3 days before Sri Ramana’s retirement. Rules were also amended to provide office and domestic aids and secretary assistance to the retired Supreme Court Judges for one year from the date of retirement.
5. These judges while in office made eloquent and authoritative statements in favour of the poor and deprived. They said right to life guaranteed in the constitution is right to decent life. Eloquent expression of kindness to the poor and authoritative pronouncement that the government shall look after the poor is the characteristic of these worthies while in office. But their entitlement after retirement to facilities is compensation for their “poverty” and austerity while in service.
6. The moral is: talk about the poor, sympathise and elevate them to God-hood as Daridra Narayan; after retirement enjoy the princes’ privileges. We will see more and more elevation of the poor, dalits and minorities to narayanhood and also more post-retirement perks to the Lordships – just as for MPs, MLAs….. (539 words)
END