Public Accounts Committee of parliament has decided to consult the Finance Ministry and the National Pay Commission on amending the Judges Retirement Regulations to increase the the Chief Justice's retirement package to MVR 500,000 in bulk and and an allowance of MVR 70,000 per month.

As per the existing regulations, there are no special allowances defined for a Chief Justice that retires. As per these, allowances can be given to a judge that retires upon reaching 55 years of age if they have served for ten years.

However, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has decided to amend this, and grant a special allowance to Chief Justices. As such, they have included a monthly allowance of MVR 70,000 as transport allowance and living allowance. It was also proposed that the length of service to the State be included in addition to the time served as a judge.

The JSC sent this proposal for review by the Public Accounts Committee. The committee decided today that as issuing such an allowance is an added expense for the State, the regulation will be amended based on advice from the Finance Ministry, and subsequent decision of the Pay Commission.

As per the proposed regulations, in issuing the bulk allowance granted at retirement, the time period between when the Judge was last appointed to the date of retirement will be considered. The monthly allowance will be calculated based on time served as a judge previously and later on until the time of retirement.

JSC has proposed these changes to the regulations coinciding with Chief Justice Muhthasim Adnan's request to retire. If these regulations are passed, then Chief Judge Munthasim Adnan will receive an allowance several times higher than he would have received otherwise. He will also stand to receive approximately MVR 500,000 as a bulk retirement pay.

Chief Justice Muhthasim Adnan has served 9 years, 6 months and 11 days as a Judge, and served the State for 24 years, 4 months and 18 days.