SC Issues Notices to Delhi Government Over Non-Implementation of Soft Loan Benefits for Judicial Officers

Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora appearing for the petitioner, highlighted that despite a Supreme Court judgment dated January 4, 2024, and subsequent compliance orders, the Delhi Government has not acted on the Second National Judicial Pay Commission’s recommendation to provide soft loans of up to Rs. 10 lakh at nominal interest for the purchase of vehicles by judicial officers.

Senior Advocate K. Parameshwar, appearing as amicus curiae, supported the plea, emphasizing that the continued non-implementation amounts to wilful disobedience of the Court’s binding directions.

The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar directed the Delhi government officials to respond to the contempt petition.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 6.

The Judicial Service Association of Delhi, representing officers of the Delhi Judicial Services and Higher Judicial Services, argued that the government failed to comply with Para 33(g) of the January 2024 judgment, which explicitly directed that soft loan facilities up to Rs.10 lakh at nominal interest for the purchase of vehicles be extended to judicial officers. A subsequent order dated July 11, 2024, had reiterated this directive.

The petitioners noted that the State’s review petition against the January 2024 judgment was dismissed, and the Additional Solicitor General had assured compliance within four weeks. Yet, the Delhi government has neither allocated the necessary budget nor framed a scheme to implement the benefit.

The Association characterized this inaction as a “clear contempt” of the Supreme Court’s judgment and orders, urging the Court to hold the government accountable for its failure to implement the directives.

The petition filed through AoR Vandana Anand alleged that despite a subsequent order dated July 11, 2024 directing full compliance, as well as the dismissal of a review petition by the State of NCT of Delhi, the directive remains unimplemented.

It is further submitted that no budgetary allocation or mechanism has been framed by the authorities to extend the soft loan facility. According to the petition, this constitutes a clear violation of the Court’s binding directions.

The petition also noted that even after the dismissal of the review petition filed by the State of NCT of Delhi and assurances given by the Additional Solicitor General that necessary permissions would be issued by the Union of India within four weeks, the directions remain unfulfilled. A formal communication sent to the primary contemnor urging compliance has reportedly gone unheeded, the petition states.

The petitioner association argued that the continued inaction constitutes a clear contempt of the Supreme Court’s directions, depriving judicial officers of the benefit explicitly provided under the SNJPC recommendations. The body has, therefore, sought initiation of contempt proceedings against the contemnors to enforce compliance with the Court’s binding order.

Case Title: Judicial Service Association of Delhi (Regd.) v. Dharmendra & Anr. 

Order Date: September 15, 2025

Bench: Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar