Report No. 58

Work of Administrative Service not under-estimated

10.6. After this summary of opinions, we shall dispose of one aspect concerning the proposal for an improvement of the conditions of service of Judges of the High Court. In discussing the question of the improvement of the service conditions of the Judges of he High Court, it is necessary to remember that comparison of their salaries with the salaries drawn by members of the Administrative Services is really not relevant and, in any case, should not be given undue significance. We have no hesitation in expressing our appreciation of our brilliant young men and women who, in a spirit of idealism, join Administrative Services in our country, though they know fully well that the salaries with which their careers initially begin are inadequate and that, even at the end, the salaries which they may expect to draw at the top of the ladder may also not be attractive.

We are also conscious that as members of the Administrative Service rise in their own cadre, they deal with important matters concerning the welfare of the community, because a welfare State like India has inevitably to lean on its administrative agency to carry out the welfare policies laid down by socio-economic legislation. Therefore, when we say that the salaries drawn by the members of the Administrative Service should not be treated as relevant or significant in re¬examining the question of the terms and conditions of Judicial Service, we do not wish in any manner to underestimate the importance of administrative work in the progress of our country.