The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Centre, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, and other relevant parties following a plea submitted by the Judicial Service Association.
The plea urges for expediting the availability of government residential accommodations for Delhi Judicial Services Officers and Delhi Higher Judicial Services Officers.
A bench of Justices Manmohan and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora has sought responses from all concerned parties, including the Union of India represented by the Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Justice, the State (NCT of Delhi) through its Chief Secretary and Registrar General, as well as the Delhi High Court. The matter has been scheduled for July 16.
Judicial Service Association
The plea presented by the Judicial Service Association Delhi highlights that presently, Delhi hosts a total of 823 judicial officers, yet only 347 residential accommodations are available within the judicial pool. This indicates that nearly half of the judicial officers in Delhi lack official residential accommodation, portraying an abysmal scenario.
It underscores the longstanding recognition of the necessity for providing official residential accommodations to judicial officers. It points out that as far back as 1958, the 14th Law Commission of India Report acknowledged the challenges faced by judicial officers in securing suitable residential accommodations, both officially and privately.
Difficulties
The current situation remains akin to the past, as judicial officers of the petitioner association still encounter difficulties in securing suitable accommodations. They often have to travel long distances to find appropriate housing, enduring the stress of dealing with landlords and navigating the rental market.
Furthermore, the plea notes a stark contrast in the availability of residential accommodations between the Judicial Pool, Central Pool, and State Pool. Until a sufficient number of residential accommodations are constructed for judicial officers, the plea suggests allowing them to apply for accommodations under the Central Pool and State Pool.
Regarding financial support, the plea highlights the inadequacy of the House Rent Allowance (HRA) provided to judicial officers in Delhi, currently set at 27% of their basic pay. This amount is deemed insufficient when compared to prevailing market rates, particularly for lower-level judicial officers (up to J-5 level) who struggle to find suitable accommodations within Delhi.
Moreover, many judicial officers have families to support, further complicating their search for suitable housing within Delhi. Consequently, a significant number of officers are compelled to reside in areas like Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad, resulting in significant commuting challenges between their residences and the courts.
