17 May 2025 Legal Updates

SUPREME COURT ISSUES DIRECTIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF COURT MANAGERS, DIRECTS HIGH COURTS TO FRAME RULES ON THEIR RECRUITMENT

(a) Case Title:

• All India Judges Association and Others v. Union of India and Others

(b) Court:

• Supreme Court of India

(c) Date of Decision:

• 16 May 2025

(d) Bench:

• Chief Justice B.R. Gavai (CJI), Justice Augustine George Masih and Justice K. Vinod Chandran.

Background

The case addresses the status, service conditions, and recognition of Court Managers-a cadre introduced following the Thirteenth Finance Commission's (2010-2015) recommendations to enhance court administration and improve case disposal rates. Applications and writ petitions were filed by Court Managers and their associations seeking uniformity and enhancement of pay and allowances, recognition as Class I Gazetted Officers, regularization of contractual appointments, consideration of past service for pension and other benefits, uniform rules for career progression and promotions, and structured duty rosters outlining their roles and responsibilities.

Key Issues Considered

• Whether Court Managers should be regularized and granted uniform service conditions across India?
• Whether their pay scales and allowances should be enhanced as per the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC) recommendations?
• The need for uniformity in recruitment, service conditions, and recognition of Court Managers as essential to judicial administration.

Court's Analysis and Findings

1. Genesis and Role:

The post of Court Manager was created to support judges administratively, allowing them to focus more on judicial functions. Court Managers are expected to be professionally qualified (preferably MBAs) and assist in case management, human resource management, IT systems, and infrastructure.

2. Implementation Issues:

Despite central funding and guidelines, most Court Managers were appointed on a contractual basis with varied pay and without uniform service conditions, benefits, or career progression. Many posts remain vacant, and their services are underutilized.

3. Previous Directions:

In a 2018 judgment, the Supreme Court had already directed the regularization of Court Managers, recognizing their importance for efficient court administration.

4. SNJPC Recommendations:

The SNJPC noted persistent vacancies and recommended better utilization and regularization of Court Managers, including improved pay and service conditions.

5. Conclusion and Directions

The Supreme Court recognized the crucial role of Court Managers in judicial administration and the need for uniformity and regularization in their appointments and service conditions.

The Court emphasized implementing the SNJPC recommendations, including:

• Regularization of Court Managers,
• Granting them appropriate pay scales and allowances,
• Recognizing them as Class I Gazetted Officers,
• Ensuring their past service is counted for pension and monetary benefits,
• Framing uniform rules for their career progression and promotions, and
• Clearly defining their roles and responsibilities for efficient judicial administration1.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Court Managers are vital for efficient judicial administration, supporting judges in non-judicial functions. The Supreme Court has directed uniformity in their service conditions and recognition of their role across India.

KEY LEGAL PRINCIPLE:

The judiciary can direct the executive and states to implement uniform service conditions for posts created under central schemes, especially when they are integral to the justice delivery system.