Judges want exemption from pay cuts

SUPREME Court judges reportedly angered lawmakers yesterday after they asked for judges to be exempt from salary cuts imposed last year as part of an austerity package to shore up the ailing economy.
The matter arose in December last year when parliament passed an austerity package that included pay cuts to the salaries of state officials, among others.
Citing the judiciary’s independence, the judges asked for the law to change and pledged that they will enforce the necessary salary cuts themselves.
That however did not go down well with some MPs who questioned the reason for the exemption.
Reports said the judges departed the meeting unhappy but a group of MPs visited with them later on in a bid to mend fences.
It is understood that the MPs promised to look into the matter anew.
Lawmakers had been warned at the time that the provision may be unconstitutional.
And the President of the Supreme Court had sent a letter to the House when the package was being discussed, offering his commitment that judges would pay voluntary contributions to help efforts for economic recovery.
District court judges have since filed an appeal with the Supreme Court citing constitutional provisions that prohibit any changes to their salaries that will be to their disadvantage.
Article 158, paragraph three states that “the remuneration and other conditions of service of any such judge shall not be altered to his disadvantage after his appointment.”