The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has requested significant changes to the retirement regulations for judges, proposing that retired Chief Justices receive a one-time payment of MVR 500,000 along with a monthly retirement allowance of MVR 70,000.
The request was submitted to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and calls for the introduction of a distinct retirement benefits package for the Chief Justice, who currently receives no special entitlements beyond what is available to other judges.
Under the current regulations, judges are eligible for retirement benefits only if they have served for at least 10 years and reached the age of 55. The JSC's proposed changes would not only introduce a fixed monthly allowance for the retired Chief Justice to cover living and travel expenses but also modify how the one-time retirement payment is calculated.
Specifically, the JSC is urging the government to consider all prior state service, regardless of the position held, when determining eligibility and the amount of the one-time retirement payment. At present, only years served as a judge are counted.
The proposed amendments come in the wake of Chief Justice Muthasim Adnan’s formal request for retirement, submitted on May 8. While the JSC has not yet made a decision on his resignation, the changes could substantially increase his retirement benefits.
According to records, Chief Justice Muthasim has served nine years, six months, and 11 days as a judge, just shy of the current 10-year requirement. However, if his previous state service is included, his total service time extends to 24 years and four months, qualifying him for the proposed MVR 500,000 one-time payment and the MVR 70,000 monthly allowance.
