Section 13 of the Act protects the salary and conditions of service of the Presiding Officer/Chairperson after appointment. What does this protection entail?

Section 13 provides that the salary and allowances, pension, gratuity, and other retirement benefits of the Presiding Officer of a Tribunal or the Chairperson of an Appellate Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed. Crucially, the proviso to Section 13 states that neither the salary and allowances nor the other terms and conditions of service shall be varied to the disadvantage of the incumbent after appointment. This security-of-tenure provision ensures judicial independence - the government cannot punish a judge by reducing his salary or benefits. This is consistent with constitutional norms applicable to judges and reflects the quasi-judicial nature of DRT adjudication.