ISLAMABAD: The federal government has increased the allowances and house rent of the Supreme Court judges through President’s order No 2 of 2024 by amending the Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privilege) Order, 1997. Through the presidential order (PO), which was promulgated on Nov 4 and signed by acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, the house rent of a Supreme Court judge under paragraph 20 of the PO has been increased to Rs350,000 from an earlier Rs68,000 per month, in cases where the government has not provided the judge with an official residence. The residence will also be maintained at government expense. The maintenance in relation to a residence includes the payment of local rates and taxes and the provision of electricity, gas and water as well as to the staff quarters and the gardens of the residence. Paragraph 22 of the PO has also been amended by increasing the superior judicial allowance (SJA) to Rs1,161,163 from the earlier Rs428,040. The PO will come into force at once and will be deemed to have taken effect from July 1, 2024. Earlier, the government had also increased the allowances and house rent of high court judges manifold with house rent of high court judges being increased from Rs65,000 to Rs350,000. Likewise, the superior judicial allowance was increased from Rs342,431 to Rs1,090,000.