IndianVoter.comVoter help ↗
AI illustration
THE CONSTITUTION, MADE UNDERSTANDABLE

Article 221
Salaries, etc., of Judges

Start with a question. Discover the Preamble, Articles, Parts, Schedules and amendments — with plain-language guides beside the official text.

26 Parts12 Schedules506 indexed article entries, including historical omissions
BROWSE / SEARCH / READ

Search. Read. Understand.

Search by number, title or full text. Lettered provisions are included.

Source edition: as on 1 May 2026. Omitted and struck-down reference entries remain labelled. Open the authoritative PDF ↗

Article 221 / Part VI

Salaries, etc., of Judges

included in edition
THE PLAIN-LANGUAGE GUIDE

What does this mean?

High Court judges' pay and specified service benefits are governed by law and the constitutional safeguards against adverse variation stated here. This supports judicial independence.

State Governors, ministers, legislatures, High Courts and the subordinate judiciary.

PURPOSE & CONTEXT

Why is this provision here?

The High Court system needs defined judicial offices, jurisdiction and administrative safeguards to carry out the specific role described above.

Historical evidence

This Article number belongs to the original constitutional framework, but its present wording may include later amendments or substitutions. A provision-specific original Assembly debate has not been verified here. The explanation of function above is editorial inference from the text, not an attributed single motive of the framers. The original draft-making archive is a research resource, not proof of a particular historical reason. The later amendment records linked below document changes affecting this Article; their Bill statements explain those proposals, not necessarily every original clause or the complete present legal outcome.

The explanation of purpose is an editorial reading of the provision. A drafting motive is attributed only where a linked historical source supports it.

Limits, exceptions & reading carefully

Educational summary of the linked source text. Exceptions, provisos, implementing laws and applicable judgments must be read before applying it to a real case.

Read the official constitutional text
221. Salaries, etc., of Judges.—[(1) There shall be paid to the Judges of each High 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 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 allowances and rights as are specified in the Second Schedule: Provided that neither the allowances of a Judge nor his rights in respect to leave of absence or pension shall be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
Source-page notes · may concern neighbouring Articles

1. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 4(b), (with retrospective effect). 2. The words "in a State" omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-11-1956). 3. Subs. by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-11-1956). 4. 1st November, 1956. 5. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1986, s. 3, for clause (1)

1. Subs. by the Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014, s. 7, for "after consultation with the Chief Justice of India" (w.e.f. 13-4-2015). This amendment has been struck down by the Supreme Court in the case of Supreme Court Advocates-on- Record Association and Another Vs. Union of India in its judgment dated 16-10-2015, AIR 2016 SC 117. 2. The words "within the territory of India" omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 14 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956). 3. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 5 (w.e.f. 5-10-1963). Original cl. (2) was omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 14 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956). 4. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 15 for art. 224

Extracted from the Legislative Department’s May 2026 edition. Page footnotes may refer to neighbouring provisions; check their markers in the PDF. Inclusion in this edition does not by itself establish commencement or judicial effect.