List retd HC judges' occupying official accomodation: HC

Mumbai, Aug 17 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the Registrar of the Court to submit a list of reitred High Court judges still residing in their official accomOdation despite not holding office.

A division bench comprising Justice R M Lodha and Justice S A Bobde observed that if the court could direct ministers and bureaucrats to vacate their accomodation after expiry of their tenure, there was no reason why they could not direct the judicial officers for the same.

Justice Lodha stated, ''Judiciary cannot follow in the footsteps of politicians and bureaucrats. They should be the ones to set examples.'' The matter came up after MBPT General Workers Union had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging that Judge A A Laad, who was a retired judge of the Lower District Court and now appointed as the Judge of the Central Government Labour Court, continued to reside in the accomodation provided to him, while he was the District Court judge.

Following this PIL, the court suo motu initiated the matter of retired judges and scheduled the next hearing for August 23.

UNI ARM-XR KU SSC MSJ BD2213