Constitution of India · Part V: The Union · Chapter IV: The Union Judiciary
Article 125: Salaries, etc., of Judges
In plain words
Supreme Court Judges receive salaries fixed by Parliament by law, or until then as in the Second Schedule. Their privileges, allowances, leave and pension rights are also set by Parliament or the Second Schedule.
- None of these can be changed to a Judge's disadvantage after their appointment.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
[(1) There shall be paid to the Judges of the Supreme Court such salaries as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries as are specified in the Second Schedule.]
(2) Every Judge shall be entitled to such privileges and allowances and to such rights in respect of leave of absence and pension as may from time to time be determined by or under law made by Parliament and, until so determined, to such privileges, allowances and rights as are specified in the Second Schedule:
Provided that neither the privileges nor the allowances of a Judge nor his rights in respect of leave of absence or pension shall be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the official text of the Constitution of India. As amended up to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Text as on 10 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the article 125
- All India Judges Association v. Union of India
- Rajendra Diwan v. Pradeep Kumar Ranibala & Anr.
- Lok Prahari, Through Its General Secretary S. N. Shukla & Another v. Union of India Through Its Secretary & Others
- Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Association and Another v. Union of India
- Bhanumati Etc. Etc. v. State of Uttar Pradesh Through Its Principal Secretary and Others
- Mr. Justice Deoki Nandan Agarwala v. Union of India and Anr.
- Smt. Sarojini Ramaswami v. Union of India and Anr.
- H. H. Maharajadhiraja Madhav Rao Jiwaji Rao Scindia Bahadur & Ors. v. Union of India