Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Plea To Expedite Availability Of Residential Accommodations For Judges

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on a plea seeking to expedite the availability of government residential accommodations for judicial officers serving in the national capital.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora sought a response from the Union of India through the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Delhi Government and the Registrar General.

The matter will be heard on July 16.

The plea, moved by the Judicial Service Association, seeks to expedite the availability of accommodations for officers serving in the Delhi Judicial Services and Delhi Higher Judicial Services in terms of judgements of the Supreme Court in All India Judges' Assn. (I) v. Union Of India and All India Judges' Assn. (II) v. Union Of India.

The petition submits that as of April 18, the total working strength of judicial officers in the national capital is 823, however, there are only 347 residential accommodations available in the judicial pool.

“Hence, around half of the judicial officers in Delhi have not been provided any official residential accommodation. The said statistics clearly show that the current state of affairs vis-à-vis availability of government accommodations for judicial officers in Delhi is abysmal,” it states.

The plea further adds that despite the Apex Court's directions to the Central and State Governments to provide official residential accommodation to all judicial officers, a large number of judges in Delhi have not been provided any residential accommodation.

The plea contends that such judicial officers are left to fend for themselves, only with the aid of grossly inadequate HRA and other allowances.

The petition refers to a circular Government of Haryana under which private buildings or houses for residential purposes are being hired or requisitioned for providing residential accommodation to judicial officers there.

“It is submitted that similar relief may be provided to the Petitioner agency and judicial officers serving in Delhi,” the plea adds.

Title: JUDICIAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION, DELHI v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS