SSC
The First National Judicial Pay Commission, set up in March 1996 to review the pay and service conditions of the subordinate judiciary, was chaired by:
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Answer: Option B — Justice K.J. Shetty
Detailed Solution
Shetty. The First National Judicial Pay Commission (FNJPC) was set up by the Government of India in March 1996, following directions of the Supreme Court, under the chairmanship of Justice K. Jagannatha Shetty, a retired judge of the Supreme Court.
Why the commission was set up:
- In the All India Judges' Association case (1992 and 1993), the Supreme Court directed the government to improve the service conditions of judicial officers in the subordinate courts.
- The Court recognised that the judiciary at the district level needs adequate pay and facilities to remain independent and attract talent.
Recommendations of the Shetty Commission:
- Uniform designations and pay scales for judicial officers across the country.
- Better pay scales, allowances and retirement benefits.
- Improved working conditions, such as residential accommodation, vehicles and libraries.
- Better promotion prospects and training.
- Recommendations on the recruitment of judicial officers.
Implementation:
The Supreme Court, in the All India Judges' Association case (2002), largely accepted the Shetty Commission's recommendations and directed the states to implement them.
Later commissions:
The Second National Judicial Pay Commission, chaired by Justice P.V. Reddi, a retired Supreme Court judge, was set up in 2017.
Its recommendations on pay, pension and allowances were accepted by the Supreme Court in 2023, with directions to the states.
The Padmanabhan Committee (2000s) also looked into the pay of judicial officers in the interim period.
About Justice K.J. Shetty:
- He was a judge of the Karnataka High Court and later of the Supreme Court (1987 to 1991).
- He wrote several important judgments on service and administrative law.
Importance of judicial independence:
The Supreme Court has held that the independence of the judiciary includes financial security for judges at all levels.
Why not the other options?
Justice P.V. Reddi chaired the Second National Judicial Pay Commission.
Justice R. Basant and Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer did not chair the first commission.
Quick tip
Remember: First National Judicial Pay Commission (1996) = Justice K.J. Shetty; second (2017) = Justice P.V. Reddi.
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Judiciary — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Judiciary, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the Indian judiciary: the Supreme Court, High Courts and subordinate courts, the appointment and removal of judges, the collegium system, original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction, judicial review, public interest litigation, and bodies such as Lok Adalats and tribunals. Exams test the article that establishes the Supreme Court (Article 124), its advisory jurisdiction (Article 143), the power of High Courts to issue writs (Article 226), and the process for removing judges. Landmark judgments and the first holders of key judicial posts are also common, especially in law entrance exams such as CLAT and MAH LAW CET. Practise the judiciary questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.