Pakistan’s Chief Justice, Umer Ata Bandial, has authorized the revised Special Judicial Allowance (SJA) for Supreme Court employees. Following this approval, staff members across all grades (BPS-1-22) will receive the allowance from May 1, 2023, equivalent to one initial basic pay of the 2022 Pay Scales.
A statement from the Supreme Court deputy registrar (Admin) dated May 31, 2023, revealed that “In continuation with the February 7, 2023, notification, the Chief Justice, utilizing the powers under the Finance Division’s (Expenditure Wing) O.M.No.F.1(5)R.12/81 from November 24, 1993, along with Rule 4 of the Supreme Court Establishment Service Rules, 2015, has decided to unfreeze the Special Judicial Allowance. Accordingly, this allowance, equivalent to one initial basic pay of the 2017 Pay Scales, will now be accessible to Supreme Court employees (BPS 1-22), enabling them to receive the updated allowance from May 1, 2023.”
The statement added that the Supreme Court employees would continue to receive the revised allowance, equivalent to three initial basic pays of the 2022 Pay Scales, and it would remain at this level until further instructions. The additional expenditure will be covered within the court’s sanctioned budget grant.
Regarding the Chief Justice’s remuneration, it’s noteworthy that the Chief Justice ranks first in salary distribution, followed by Supreme Court judges and the president, with the prime minister’s salary lower than ministers and federal secretaries. Conversely, Supreme Court judges’ salaries exceed those of the president, prime minister, ministers, federal secretaries, and parliamentarians.
According to data from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last month, the Chief Justice receives a salary of Rs1,527,399, significantly higher than the prime minister and the president. In addition, the Chief Justice is allotted a government residence and two vehicles, including a bulletproof car and a 1800cc car. Other perks include 600 liters of petrol, unlimited utility facilities, a monthly house rent allowance of Rs98,000, and a daily allowance of Rs8,000.
