The President has
given his assent to the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions
of Service) Amendment Bill, 2002, the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries
and Conditions of Service) Second Amendment Bill, 2002 and the
Representation of the People (Second Amendment) Bill, 2002. With
this, these three Bills, passed during the Winter Session of Parliament
ending December 20, 2002, have been notified in the Gazette of
India as Act Nos. 7, 8 and 9 respectively of the year 2003.
The High Court
Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 2003,
which seeks to amend the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions
of Service) Act, 1954, provides for removal of anomalies in the
pension of High Court Judges who retired before November 1, 1986
and those who retired after November 1, 1986. It seeks to provide
uniform rates of family pension to the retired High Court judge
irrespective of their date of retirement. This follows advice
of the Chief Justice of India as also a judgement of the Andhra
Pradesh High Court in O. Chinnappa Reddy Vs. Union of India and
Others of 1999. The Amendment Act has come into force with immediate
effect.
The Supreme Court
Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Second Amendment Act,
2003, which seeks to amend the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries
and Conditions of Service ) Act, 1958, provides for removal of
anomalies in the family pension of retired judges of the Supreme
Court. It seeks to provide uniform rates of family pensions to
the judges of Supreme Court irrespective of their date of retirement
and the existing anomaly between those Supreme Court Judges who
retired before November 1, 1986 and those having retired thereafter
has been dispensed with. This will entail an additional expenditure
of Rs. 3 lakh per annum besides the fluctuating dearness relief
on the part of the Central Government. The Amendment Act has come
into force with immediate effect.
The Representation
of the People (Second Amendment) Act, 2003, which seeks to amend
the Representation of the People Act, 1950, provides for insertion
in the IV Schedule to the Representation of the People Act, 1950
under the heading "Bihar", Nagar Parishads, Cantonment
Boards, Nagar Panchayats, Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, Nagar
Nigams (Corporations) and Gram Panchayats in keeping with the
73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution
making important changes in the structure of Panchayats and Municipalities.
The Amendment Act has come into force with immediate effect.
