MPs flag issues concerning judiciary in Rajya Sabha debate

Rajya Sabha members expressed concern on Monday over the conspicuously high number of pending cases in courts, undertrials languishing in jails for years, deplorable infrastructure in lower courts and the lacunae in appointment of judges to the high courts and the Supreme Court. The House passed the bill that will entitle SC and HC judges to get an additional quantum of pension after 80 years.

The Upper House passed the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021, with consensus after a spirited debate where members spoke in one voice on the pressing need for reforms in the judiciary. Being a Money Bill, it was returned to the Lok Sabha which had passed it on December 8.

As per the provisions of the bill, all retired judges of the high courts and the Supreme Court and their family members will be entitled to get an additional quantum of pension on a specified scale having five age brackets, starting from the first month after attaining the age of 80. The increase in each scale will be 20%.


Replying to the debate on the Bill, law minister Kiren Rijiju shared the concerns of members on various important issues related to the judiciary. He said both Houses of Parliament had unanimously passed the National Judicial Appointments Collegium Bill in 2015, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court.