Ex-judges can hire house help at public expense

New Delhi: Former Delhi high court judges can now hire domestic help at public expense.

The decision to this effect was taken by the high court which has now been notified by the Delhi government.

Former Chief Justices and judges of the Delhi high court will be provided a domestic help in the national capital. It will be the discretion of the former judges to select the domestic help of their choice. The domestic help will be on contractual employment with the high court. In case the domestic help is not on contractual service, he or she will get the monthly remuneration from the high court.

The notification said that the wages payable to the domestic help will be equivalent to the salary payable to a Class-IV employee of the high court in the grade of a peon or equivalent at the minimum of the scale of pay (basic pay and dearness allowance) with annual increment.

In case the former judges engage the services of more than one domestic help, the high court will reimburse wages equivalent to what is payable to only one help at the prescribed rate.

The domestic help engaged by the former judges will continue to remain on a contractual basis so long he or she renders satisfactory services certified by their respective employers.

The notification said if the former judges do not appoint the domestic help of their choice, they can request the Chief Justice to depute an employee from the establishment of the high court for the said work.

The notification made it clear that the facility extended to the former judges shall be provided on the same terms and conditions to their surviving spouse all through their life.

It, however, made it clear  that in the event of any question or dispute arising in regard to the interpretation of the set rules, the Chief Justice of the Delhi high court would be competent to take a decision  in that regard. The decision of the Chief Justice will be final and binding in all respects.