CJI Chandrachud Approves Consolidated Remuneration for Law Clerks

03-04-2023 : The Supreme Court of India has issued new guidelines, approved by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, for the engagement of law clerks to assist judges with legal research. Under the “Scheme for Engaging Law Clerk-cum-Research Associates on Short-Term Contractual Assignment in the Supreme Court of India,” law clerks will be paid a consolidated remuneration of Rs 80,000 per month for their assignment, with no additional allowances or perquisites. If a law clerk’s assignment is extended beyond 12 months, their remuneration will increase to Rs 90,000 per month.

The CJI and other Supreme Court judges will be entitled to the services of four law clerks, with the first two being selected through the apex court’s registry selection process. The judges may engage a fifth law clerk subject to workload requirements. The primary responsibilities of the law clerks include preparing brief summaries of fresh cases listed for admission and synopses of regular hearing matters, as well as recording all arguments made during the hearing of regular matters where benches are expected to deliver judgments.