JSC confirms no additional allowances for retiring Muthasim
JSC added that Muthasim will receive the same retirement benefits as other judges in accordance with existing regulations.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Sunday confirmed that Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan, who is set to retire on Monday, will not receive any new allowances beyond those already stipulated in the existing Judges’ Retirement Rules.
The JSC had earlier sought parliamentary guidance in June on a proposal to revise the retirement package for a Chief Justice. Proposed changes included a monthly transport and living allowance of MVR 70,000 and recalculating the retirement allowance by including not only judicial service but also the full period of public service. This would have raised Muthasim’s retirement payout from MVR 185,100 to MVR 493,600.
However, the proposal received public criticism and was referred to the Pay Commission by the Parliament’s Finance Committee on 16 May. The committee also decided that any revision should follow recommendations from the Ministry of Finance.
One month later, the Pay Commission has not issued a decision or public statement regarding the matter.
When contacted, JSC Secretary General Aminath Nadha Hussain confirmed that the Chief Justice’s retirement will proceed under the current legal framework.
“Chief Justice [Muthasim] is scheduled to retire under the Judges' Retirement Rules that are currently in force,” said Nadha. “We have not gazetted any amendments that were under discussion. Therefore, he will not receive the additional allowances previously proposed.”
She added that Muthasim will receive the same retirement benefits as other judges in accordance with existing regulations.
Under the Judges' Retirement Rules, a retired judge receives:
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A lump sum calculated as one-third of the basic salary multiplied by the years served as a judge
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A monthly retirement allowance calculated at 1/40 of the basic salary multiplied by the number of years of service, paid until the retiree’s death
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Medical insurance equal to that provided to sitting judges, which also extends to the retiree’s spouse and children under the age of 18
According to the JSC’s earlier letter to Parliament, Muthasim is eligible to receive a total of MVR 185,100 under the current formula. The monthly disbursement figure has not been disclosed.
Muthasim was appointed Chief Justice on 8 December 2019 and previously served on the Supreme Court between 2010 and 2014.
