The Bombay High Court has recently directed its administration to draft a proposal to the Maharashtra government for the regularization of the services of court managers already appointed in the State.
Court managers, individuals appointed in every judicial district to assist the judiciary in administrative functions, possess a Master of Business Administration degree.
In August 2018, the Supreme Court issued a directive mandating the regularization of the services of individuals currently serving as court managers in any district by the respective State government. This directive aimed to ensure the establishment of an appropriate administrative framework within the courts.
A division bench comprising Justices GS Kulkarni and Jitendra Jain expressed their initial opinion that the immediate course of action should involve the creation of a proposal for the regularization of the services of court managers currently in their roles. They adjourned the proceedings for four weeks to provide authorities with the necessary time to take appropriate steps in this regard.
These directions were issued in response to a plea filed by 17 petitioners serving as senior court managers in various districts and family courts within the State. The primary issues raised in their plea concerned the regularization of their services and the establishment of a minimum pay scale for their positions.
The petitioners contended that they had initially been appointed as court managers for a five-year term in accordance with the Recruitment Rules of 2011. Subsequently, their appointments were extended on multiple occasions.
Another concern expressed by the petitioners pertained to their minimum pay. They argued that their salaries should have been adjusted in line with the recommendations of the VIth and VIIth Pay Commissions. However, these adjustments had not been reflected in their pay.
The High Court administration informed the Court that it was actively taking steps to ensure the regularization of court managers’ services. Furthermore, the process of establishing staffing patterns for the High Court and District Court personnel, as well as the formulation of Recruitment Rules for the appointment of court managers, was still pending consideration by the State Rules Committee.
