Authority: Supreme Court of India
Order Date: 31-07-2026
Case Overview
- Petition 879/2026: Filed by the Association of Retired Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts of India under Article 32, seeking:
- (A) Amendment of Rule 3B of Supreme Court Judges Rules, 1959 to include the spouse of a deceased Supreme Court judge.
- (B) Amendment of the High Court Judges Rules, 1956 in line with representations dated 01.07.2022 and 18.03.2025.
- (C) Grant of post‑retiral benefits to former judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts as per the same representations.
- (D) Uniformity in service rules of Supreme Court and High Court judges concerning post‑retiral and medical benefits.
- (E) Any other appropriate writ, order or direction.
- The petitioner highlighted that Rule 3‑B omits the expression “spouse and/or dependent‑children,” urging the competent authority to examine this omission, potentially via the Committee constituted by the Court’s order dated 20.07.2026 in Contempt Petition (C) Nos. 425‑426/2015.
- The Court observed that a comprehensive representation had been made to the Government of India and directed the Union of India to consider the representations dated 01.07.2022 and 18.03.2025 and refer all pending issues to the aforementioned Committee.
- The petition was disposed at this stage; any pending applications, if any, also stand disposed.
- Petition 882/2026: The Court issued a notice, returnable on 03.11.2026, and tagged the matter with C.P.(C) Nos. 425‑426/2015. The Court directed that any additional documents, if any, be placed on record.
Final Outcome
- Petition 879/2026: Dismissed with a directive to the Union of India to examine the Association’s representations and forward the issues to the Committee for consideration.
- Petition 882/2026: Proceeded with issuance of a notice, returnable on 03‑11‑2026, and linkage to the earlier contempt petitions.
Topics: Judicial Service Rules, Post‑Retiral Benefits