Published Aug 26, 2022 | 10:19 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 26, 2022 | 10:19 AM
Supreme Court employees also get two Saturdays off every month and extra washing allowance. (Creative Commons)
Whether the poor of this country are entitled to “freebies” is a question that the top court of the nation has chosen to go into, though many believe it falls outside its domain.
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana has, however, thought it fit to dole out more benefits to employees of the top court utilising the power vested in him in regard to administrative decisions.
He is not required to consult brother judges on administrative matters.
The chief justice made the announcement on the “freebies” in an open meeting with court employees a couple of days ago. However, a formal notification is yet to be issued.
As of now, Supreme Court employees work for approximately 260 days in a year, though judges have more holidays, which are expected to be utilised to formulate orders based on the arguments made in courts.
The total number of employees in the Supreme Court is estimated to be around 2,200, with about 50 percent being women.
Once the new rules come into force, even employees will enjoy holidays every second and fourth Saturday, while the other Saturdays will be full working days.
At present, lawyers can physically file case-related papers up to 1 pm on all Saturdays.
But the icing on the cake is something else. In a move that is likely to surprise the most socialist and feminist of leaders anywhere in the world, women employees will now be entitled to 63 days of “child-care” leave in one year till the child reaches the age of 18.
This leave can be utilised in three spells of 21 days.
As per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, women employees should be given 730 days of child care leave, or CCL, during the entire period of their service.
In line with the radical views expressed by the Chief Justice of India — outside the court, of course — an additional, out-of-turn increment has also been granted to all employees.
The other lesser freebies include the provision of a uniform once in two years instead of three, and a ₹500 increase in the washing allowance of employees up to the level of senior court assistant.
