Telangana HC directs fast-tracking of pension process for former judge

Justice (retd) Devi, who served as a Judge of the Telangana High Court from May 2019 and retired in October 2022, approached the court challenging the inaction of several state and central authorities in processing her pensionary benefits, including the arrears of unpaid pension and the interest accrued on them.

The petitioner had sought directions of the court to the Accountant General, the Director of Treasuries and Accounts, and the Pay and Accounts Officer to process the pension papers of the petitioner to facilitate the disbursal of such benefits to her, including the arrears of unpaid pension and interest accrued.

The petitioner, represented by senior counsel B Mayur Reddy and counsel Paida Pratik Reddy, contended that this was in violation of the principle of ‘one rank one pension’, which is the norm of a constitutional office, as held by the Supreme Court in P Ramakrishnam Raju Vs Union of India and reiterated in High Court Judges Pension Refixation Considering Service Period in District Judiciary & High Court in May 2025.

That ruling has mandated that all retired high court judges, regardless of whether they were elevated from the district judiciary or the Bar, are entitled to a uniform pension structure—currently set at Rs 13.5 lakh per annum for judges who did not retire as Chief Justices, the petitioner argued.

The petitioner stated that she was receiving a paltry sum of Rs 17,440 towards pension each month at present, as against the entitlement of Rs 1,12,500 each month as basic pension.