President Ram Nath Kovind Approves Bill To Hike Judges’ Salary.

President Ram Nath Kovind gave his approval to a Bill that will more than double the salaries of Supreme Court and High Court judges.
In the Winter Session of Parliament, the Bill to increase salaries of judges was passed. Now after the President’s approval, the Chief Justice of India will draw a monthly salary of Rs.2.80 lakh, up from the current Rs.1 lakh.
Other judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of High Courts will draw a monthly salary of 2.50 lakh, a jump from the current 90,000.
The salary hike, which is in line with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for officers of all-India services, will come into force retrospectively from January 1, 2016.
The high court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 2018 will also revise the rates of house rent allowance with effect from July 1, 2017 and the rates of sumptuary allowance with effect from September 22, 2017.
In 2016, then Chief Justice of India T S Thakur had written to the government seeking a hike in the salaries of Supreme Court and high court judges.
As against the approved strength of 31, the Supreme Court today has 25 judges. The 24 high courts have an approved strength of 1,079, but 682 judges are handling work currently.
The move will also benefit 2,500 retired judges.