Supreme Court Ends Arbitrary Salary Increments by CJI; Past Boosts Reversed

New Delhi: A major development has emerged regarding employee salaries in the Supreme Court. For years, some Chief Justices of India (CJI) were reportedly granting arbitrary additional increments to select staff members just before retirement. This practice has now been halted, and past increments have been withdrawn.

Unlike typical government or private jobs, where salary increases are annual, in the Supreme Court, certain staff were receiving two to three extra increments per year, with some close to the CJI getting up to six extra increments. This effectively raised salaries by up to 150% for a few employees over the past four years.

Full Court Intervention

Former CJI B.R. Gavai convened a full court meeting to address this irregularity. Judges collectively emphasized that the Supreme Court is not a monarchy, and the CJI does not have unilateral authority to award increments. Following extensive discussion, the full court decided to end the practice and revoke all extra increments granted in recent years. Going forward, any salary increments will require full court approval.

Impact on Employees

Employees who had received these additional increments have faced sudden reductions in their pay, creating financial difficulties. Many had planned expenses such as home loans or vehicle loans based on the higher salary. Some employees claimed they earned the extra increments through extra work, and now face salaries reduced by as much as ₹40,000 per month. Allegations also surfaced of some registrars providing misleading information to former CJIs.

Employee Reactions

Interviews with staff revealed that many felt the adjustment should have been spread across future annual increments rather than a sudden rollback, to prevent financial disruption. The controversy raises questions about transparency and fairness in salary distribution within India’s apex court.

The Supreme Court’s decisive action marks a move toward standardized and transparent salary policies, ending the discretionary power previously exercised by some CJIs.