Haryana

• 06 Aug 2024

Amendments in Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014

Why in News?

The Haryana Council of Ministers is set to approve an Ordinance to amend the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014.

Key Points

• The objective of Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014 was to provide a legal procedure by which the gurdwaras were brought under the exclusive control of the Sikhs of Haryana for their proper use, administration, control and financial management reforms.
  • This act created a separate juristic entity for the management of the historical gurdwaras in Haryana, gurdwaras with income both over and under ₹20 lakh.
• Proposed Amendments:
  • Judicial Appointments: The proposed amendment includes provisions for appointing a High Court judge as the chairman of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission.
    • If a High Court judge is not appointed, a District Judge or a senior member of the commission will be considered.
  • Revision of Pension / Family Pension: The Haryana Government is also expected to deal with the issue of revision of pension/family pension for retired judicial officers of the Haryana government as per the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC).

Second National Judicial Pay Commission

• The Commission was constituted in 2017 pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in All India Judges Association case, under Article 32 (Constitutional Remedies) of the Constitution.
• It is headed by former Judge of Supreme Court Justice P. Venkatrama Reddi.
• Few of the objectives of the Commission are:
  • To evolve the principles governing the pay structure and emoluments of Judicial Officers belonging to the Subordinate Judiciary all over the country.
  • To examine the present structure of emoluments and conditions of services of Judicial Officers in the States and Union Territories and to make suitable recommendations including post-retirement benefits such as pension, etc.
  • To consider and recommend such interim relief as the Commission considers just and proper to all categories of Judicial Officers.
  • To make recommendations regarding setting up of a permanent mechanism to review the pay and service conditions of members of Subordinate Judiciary periodically by an independent Commission.
• The Supreme Court observed that the Commission may consider, if necessary, sending reports on any of the matters as and when recommendations are finalised.
• The Commission has been empowered to devise its own procedure and formulate the modalities necessary for accomplishing the task

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