Judges Leave Bill Introduced In Lok Sabha

A bill which seeks to end the restriction of 240 days for carry-forward of leave on full allowances for Supreme Court judges and half pay leave for high court judges was introduced in the Lok Sabha yesterday. The high court and Supreme Court judges (conditions of service) Amendment Bill, 1997, introduced by law minister Ramakant D Khalap seeks to amend the relevant acts for this purpose.

Khalap explained that when an officer of the state judicial service was appointed as a judge of the high court, his leave account was regulated under the provisions of the High Court Judges (conditions of service) Act, 1954 which entitles him to carry forward only the 240 days of earned leave.

He was, however, not entitled to carry forward the half pay leave in his leave account in the state judicial service.

The minister said government had received representations from judges who requested for an amendment to enable them to avail this benefit of carry forward of half pay leave.