Retired judges occupying official residences: HC seeks reply

Mumbai, Aug 31 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the Registrar General of the Court to file an affidavit within two weeks indicating the action taken against those retired judges who have still not vacated their official residences despite not holding office any more.

A division bench comprising justices R M Lodha and S A Bobde also directed him to furnish details of the outstanding occupation charges, rent and damages and if any proceedings had been initiated for its recovery.

While hearing a public interest litigation two weeks ago regarding a labour judge A A Laad not having vacated his official residence despite retirement from the district court, the court had suo moto asked the Registrar General to submit a list of all the retired judges who had not vacated their official accommadation.

Today a list of about ten judges was presented of which, one Judge G J Gaikwad had not vacated his official accommadation despite retiring in the year 1997. Another judge had been allotted two accommadations -- one in Mumbai and one in Solapur -- and was still occupying both despite retirement in 2003. The case will come up for further hearing on September 14.

UNI ARM MAZ SB GC2034