LOWER HOUSE DISCUSSES SALARIES OF JUDGES AND JUDICIAL OFFICIALS

ZAGREB, Jan 27 (Hina) - Representatives of the House of Representatives on Wednesday supported the adoption of a bill on the salaries of judges and other judicial officials, but also proposed changes to the salary ratios of judges and judicial officials. The law envisages that the salaries of judges and judicial officials should be determined in relation to the salary of the Parliament President, with Supreme Court president having the largest ratio (84 per cent) while magistrates' court judges would have the lowest ratio (25 per cent). According to the bill, salary increases in the judiciary would range from 40 per cent for magistrates' court judges to 192 per cent for the Supreme Court president, Justice Minister Milan Ramljak said. Salary ratios for judges and judicial officials have been categorised in ten groups and the law also provides for a regulation on salary supplements. The question of real independence and autonomy of judges and other judicial officials depends considerably on their financial situation, Ramljak said stressing that the Government had secured budgetary funds for salary increases in the judiciary. The Lower House supported the regulation of salaries in the judiciary as well as the proposal that the bill be sent into urgent parliamentary procedure. Most objections referred to the proposed salary ratios for judges. The MPs also stressed that salaries are not the only problem plaguing the judiciary and warned of the problem of housing. (hina) jn rml