Kathmandu, January 11:

A full court meeting of the Supreme Court justices is scheduled to discuss the pros and cons of Voluntary Retirement Scheme, which the government is contemplating to introduce in the judiciary, tomorrow.

The meeting, called by Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri, is intended to give government the apex court’s position on the golden handshake provision for the judges.

“We will advise the government whether or not the scheme is needed in the judiciary,” a Supreme Court Justice told this daily today.

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Constituent Assembly Affairs had recently prepared a draft bill on the VRS and had forwarded it to the Supreme Court, the Judicial Council and the Finance Ministry.

It had also sought suggestions from the Finance Ministry over the financial burden that the government would have to incur after adopting the scheme.

The government is preparing to introduce the scheme by making amendments in the Supreme Court Justices Remuneration, Service Condition and Allowances, Act 1969 and Appellate Court and District Court Judges Remuneration, Service Condition and Allowances, Act 1991.

Through the scheme, the government will offer golden handshake to judges by adding three years service period for the judges willing to retire.

According to Section 5 (l) of the draft Bill, the apex court judges, completing 63 years of age and fulfilling all criteria for pension, would be qualified for the scheme.

Similarly, the appellate court and district court judges, completing 60 years of age and fulfilling other criteria for pension, would be eligible for the scheme.

According to the Interim Constitution of Nepal, SC judges get retirement after completing 65 years of age while the appellate and district court judges get retirement after completing 63.